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Jihee Heo

Jihee Heo Born in Incheon, South Korea, Jihee Heo is a New York-based jazz pianist, composer and keyboardist. Heo holds a Master of Music degree (Jazz Piano Performance) from Manhattan School of Music (2013), and a Bachelor’s Degree (Jazz Piano Performance) from the Conservatorium van Amsterdam (2008).

Heo has performed at acclaimed festivals and venues such as The Washington D.C. Jazz Festival, O+ Festival, Leverkusen Jazz Festival, The International African Arts Festival, The Jersey Shore Festival, Bergen Pac, Harlem Stage, National Sawdust, The Bitter End, Arthur’s Tavern, Rockwood Music Hall, Nublu, Cornelia Street Cafe and Brooklyn Bowls, among others.

Heo’s debut album “Passion” was released in 2015, on Heo’s own Heonah Music label, offering a dynamic platform for her to fully express her artistic voice in a large ensemble format featuring soaring compositions and bold arrangements, laced with experimental music. “Passion” has been reviewed to critical acclaim by The New York City Jazz Record, MM Jazz Korea, and Grammy-winning saxophonist Kirk Whalum.

Heo’s contributions as a composer, arranger, and sideman are evident in her contributions to “Arirang” - Christopher Klassen Quartet (2006), “Naïve” - Hyun Sun Park (2010), “Mixology” - Jayne Wilcox (2016), and “A Night of Obsession”- Miss So and So (2019). Cross Culture Band, with whom Ms. Heo has been working as composer, arranger and keyboardist since 2017, will released their second album “3.0.9” on April 29th, 2020.

On November 20th, 2020, Heo has released her first trio album “Are You Ready?” with legendary drummer Rodney Green, NYC’s finest Bass Player Marty Kenney, and two-time Grammy Award-winning audio engineer Mike Marciano. it has been featured on Downbeat Magazine, All About Jazz's Track of the day, Radio stations in the USA, Canada and Europe, also her album has been selected for Jazz at Lincoln center’s monthly jazz album roundup.

“what make this debut so refreshing are its ambitious environs and cohesive approach”-New York City Jazz Record

“ Jihee Heo done for me that rare and beautiful thing I value and cherish most about incredible music, She has inspired me.” -Kirk Whalum

“Jihee is a very special artist. She used her music to paint vivid pictures and take the listener on a journey they’re sure to enjoy” -Rodney Green

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10
Album Review

Ilya Dynov: Bridges

Read "Bridges" reviewed by Edward Blanco


Russian-born composer and drummer Ilya Dynov, a New York-based internationally recognized jazz musician, presents his debut recording on Bridges, a nine-piece repertoire of all original material capturing a neo-bop style of blistering up-tempo jazz with an adventurous slant. After immigrating to Belgium and obtaining his citizenship, where he pursued an advanced musical education, Dynov moved to New York City in 2018, quickly becoming emersed in the city's vibrant jazz scene. For this first album, the drummer assembles an ...

4
Album Review

Ilya Dynov: Bridges

Read "Bridges" reviewed by Richard J Salvucci


Is there a distinctive NewYork post-bop sound? If there is, does it owe its existence to some common ancestry? To the revolving cast of players who have populated a number of clubs and bands on a rotating basis since the 1990s? To licks, formulaic harmonies, or just a kind of jazz version of the median voter idea to be a little different, but not enough to scare the audience off? To do justice to the question requires on-the-ground experience, and ...

9
Album Review

Jihee Heo: Are You Ready?

Read "Are You Ready?" reviewed by Paul Rauch


Since arriving in New York from Incheon, South Korea, via studies in Amsterdam, pianist/composer Jihee Heo has made a name for herself through a broad spectrum on the jazz scene in Gotham. Heo's debut album, Passion (Heonah Music, 2015), featured strong compositions and arrangements for large ensemble, with experimental elements sprinkled in the mix. With her new release, Are You Ready? , she breaks down her artistic voice to the piano trio, employing dynamic drummer Rodney Green, and bassist Marty ...

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“what make this debut so refreshing are its ambitious environs and cohesive approach”-New York City Jazz Record

“ Jihee Heo done for me that rare and beautiful thing I value and cherish most about incredible music, She has inspired me.” -Kirk Whalum

“Jihee is a very special artist. She used her music to paint vivid pictures and take the listener on a journey they’re sure to enjoy” -Rodney Green

Concerts

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Bridges

Self Produced
2023

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Are You Ready?

OA2 Records
2020

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Passion

Heonah music
2015

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Are You Ready?

From: Are You Ready?
By Jihee Heo

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