A review of some of the highlights and trends in the Korean cultural year, primarily in London but also with half an eye to anything we might have seen elsewhere in the UK. The review is a personal one, inevitably skewed towards the events we managed to get to. Introduction This time last year I […]
Category: Jazz
Wacław Zimpel + Park Jiha play LSO St Lukes
An interesting double bill coming up at the end of January, as Park Jiha returns to London following her appearance at the 2019 K-music festival. LSO St Lukes is a better venue than Rich Mix: you’ll be able to get a better impression of Park’s other-worldly sounds in a more natural acoustic and without the […]
Hyelim Kim in Résonances #3 – Rêves, at Vortex Jazz Club
Résonances is an event merging live visual art and musical performance. It is curated by artist Aurelie Freoua. This one has the theme of Dreams. “A dream is the fulfilment of a wish” (Sigmund Freud) For this event, Aurelie brings together a diverse group of musicians and artists around the theme of ‘Dreams’. Performers include […]
Hyelim Kim w/ Australian Art Orchestra at the Vortex
Back in 2011 we heard a collaboration between Hyelim Kim and Simon Barker at the KCC. Tomorrow brings a chance to see how that partnership has developed, with the welcome addition of Peter Knight. If it’s as good as last time, you’ll kick yourself if you miss it. Australian Art Orchestra Saturday 02 Novermber 2019, […]
K-music 2019: Black String, 18 Nov @ Purcell Room
Based on Black String’s latest album release, Karma, this closing concert could be the highlight of the festival. The concert is also part of the London Jazz Festival line-up. K-music 2019: Black String Monday 18 November 2019, 7:45pm Southbank Centre / Purcell Room | Belvedere Road | London SE1 8XX Tickets £15 + booking fee […]
Black String’s new album “Karma” bodes well for the K-music festival
I’m not quite sure why I didn’t rave about Black String’s debut album Mask Dance when it came out in 2017. Listening to Karma, their follow-up studio album on ACT records due to be released on 27 September 2019, I’m finding it compelling listening. And returning to Mask Dance now I’m seeing it in a […]
Eris 136199 play the Vortex
Eris 136199 brings their “beautiful noise” (KFJC 89.7 FM) to Europe starting with a performance at The Vortex, London, 8 August Eris 136199: Han-Earl Park, Catherine Sikora and Nick Didkovsky Thursday 8 August 2019, 8pm Vortex Jazz Club | 11 Gillett Square | London, N16 8AZ Tickets £10 | Book here Han-earl Park (guitar) | […]
The 2019 K-Music festival: the official press release
The schedule for the 2019 K-Music festival was released last month, giving everyone the time to plan their diaries. Here, rather belatedly (it’s been a busy few weeks), is the official press release. Tickets are already on sale. K-Music 2019 London’s Festival of Korean Music Thurs 3 Oct: Jambinai, Purcell Room Sun 6 Oct: Celebrate […]
Moon Haewon releases second album
Jazz singer Vocalist Moon released her second album Tenderly last week. Recorded in Japan with an all-Japanese jazz ensemble, it’s very much a sister piece to her superb first album, Kiss Me. This release, available on CD only in Japan and Hong Kong, is another collection of inspired jazz and pop covers. Moon’s seemingly effortless […]
Concert notes: Byron Wallen, Jihye Kim and Pouya Ehsaei at Redon
It was hard to believe that Byron Wallen, Jihye Kim and Pouya Ehsaei had not performed together as a trio before – there seemed be such respect and understanding between the musicians, as if they were totally familiar with each other’s ways of playing. The three had shared ideas with each other in advance – […]
Parasang: Byron Wallen, Jihye Kim + Pouta Ehsaei
Trumpeter Byron Wallen has in the past collaborated with Hyelim Kim. Now comes Jihye Kim’s turn: Byron Wallen, Jihye Kim & Pouya Ehsaei Redon | The Railway Arches | Cambridge Heath Road | Bethnal Green | London E2 9HA Thursday, 27 June 2019 from 19:00-23:00 | Tickets £6 Another cosmic Parasang journey via the modular […]
Hyelim Kim and Jo Lawrence play Club Inégales
After the amazing performances at the Barbican in February by the Third Orchestra, Peter Wiegold’s team of players reconvene in the more intimate Euston location for a season in March: Club Inégales presents: Hyelim Kim and Jo Lawrence Thursday 7th March 2019, 7pm – 10:30pm Club Inégales, 180 North Gower Street, NW1 2NB Time: Doors […]
Kim Hyelim in The Third Orchestra @Barbican
There’s not much Korean-ness about this event, but it’s going to be so good that it’s worth bringing to your attention given the amazing work that Peter Wiegold does with Club Inégales – about which I’ve enthused on several occasions over the past couple of years. Kim Hyelim (pictured) is one of 22 performers taking […]
K-music 2018: Youn Sun Nah + Hyelim Kim & Alice Zawadzki, 20 November @QEH
The final concert of K-music 2018 is a double bill. After their amazing debut collaboration at K-music 2017, Hyelim Kim and Alice Zawadzki have a well-deserved reunion. Youn Sun Nah opened K-music 2016 with her regular on-stage partner Ulf Wakenius, and we look forward to her return this year. Youn Sun Nah + Hyelim Kim […]
K-music: Near East Quartet + Kyungso Park
The penultimate concert of the 2018 K-music festival is a collaboration between composer / kayageum player Kyungso Park – who performed with Andy Sheppard during K-music 2016 – and jazz / fusion band Near East Quartet: Near East Quartet + Kyungso Park Monday 19 November 2018, 7:45pm | Buy tickets Purcell Room | Belvedere Road […]
The 2018 K-Music festival: full programme announced
The schedule for the 2018 K-Music festival has been released in plenty of time, giving everyone the time to plan their diaries. Here is the official press release. Tickets are already on sale. K-Music 2018 2 October – 20 November 2018 Tickets on sale from Friday 6 July – www.serious.org.uk/k-music Find out more at www.k-music.co.uk […]
Gig review: Park Jiha at King’s Place
Park Jiha brought the 2017 K-music festival to a close at King’s Place on 25 October with a mellow set of pieces taken from her album Communion which was deservedly shortlisted for the 2016 Korea Music Awards in both the Best Crossover Album and Best Jazz & Crossover Performance categories. Park is a versatile player, […]