Connie Han
Connie Han | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | February 4, 1996 Los Angeles, California, US |
| Genres | Jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, composer |
| Instrument | Piano |
| Labels | Mack Avenue |
| Website | www |
Connie Han (born 4 February 1996) is an American jazz pianist. She has recorded three albums for Mack Avenue Records.
Early life
Han was born in Los Angeles, California to Chinese parents, both of whom were professional musicians.[1] She was taught piano from the age of five, initially by her mother.[1] She became interested in jazz at high school, where she was taught by drummer Bill Wysaske.[1] Han opted not to study music at college,[1] and became a professional musician at the age of 17, with Wysaske as her trio's musical director.[2]
Later life and career
Wysaske produced Han's debut album, The Richard Rodgers Songbook, which was self-released in 2015.[1][2] She subsequently signed to Mack Avenue Records, which released her Crime Zone in 2018.[2] Han wrote seven of the album's ten tracks.[3] The album included Wysaske and Edwin Livingston (bass) and the guest musicians Walter Smith III (saxophone) and Brian Swartz (trumpet).[4] The title track is inspired by films like Blade Runner and the anime movie Akira.[5]
In 2019, Han was named a Steinway Artist.[6] In the same year, JAZZIZ magazine featured Han in "The Shape of Jazz to Come: Artists to Watch in 2019", claiming that Han embodies her primary jazz influences McCoy Tyner, Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock and Kenny Kirkland "in way of spirit and energy, not mere reproduction." Her original compositions from Crime Zone "were firmly stamped with her own artistic vision, and it's a vision that she will certainly continue to expand through 2019 and beyond."[7]
Composing and playing style
The DownBeat reviewer of Crime Zone described Han's compositions on the album as having "angular melodies and odd, abruptly shifting meters".[3]
The DownBeat reviewer of Iron Starlet wrote that, compared with Han's piano playing on the album, on Fender Rhodes "her approach to the music shifts considerably. The emphasis turns to repeating melodic phrases and finding the right glassy tones to apply".[8]
Discography
| Year recorded | Year released | Title | Label | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | The Richard Rodgers Songbook | Self-released | with Chris Colangelo (Kontrabass), Bill Wysaske (Schlagzeug)[9] | |
| 2018 | Crime Zone | Mack Avenue | Some tracks trio, with Edwin Livingston (bass), Bill Wysaske (drums); some tracks quartet, with Walter Smith III (tenor sax) added; one track quintet, with Brian Swartz (trumpet) added; one track solo piano[4] | |
| 2019 | 2020 | Iron Starlet | Mack Avenue | Quintet, with Walter Smith III (tenor sax), Jeremy Pelt (trumpet), Ivan Taylor (bass), Bill Wysaske (drums)[2][10] |
| 2022 | Secrets of Inanna | Mack Avenue |
References
- ^ a b c d e Fukushima, Gary (November 2022). "Connie Han: The Jazz Warrior-Goddess". DownBeat. Vol. 89, no. 11. pp. 30–35.
- ^ a b c d Payne, Brian (2020). "Connie Han: Iron Starlet". Jazz Journal. Retrieved October 23, 2022.
- ^ a b Morrison, Allen (November 2018). "Connie Han: Crime Zone". DownBeat. Vol. 85, no. 11. p. 60.
- ^ a b "Crime Zone". Mackavenue.com. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
- ^ "Connie Han". Mackavenue.com. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
- ^ "Connie Han - Steinway & Sons". Steinway.com. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
- ^ Zimmerman, Brian (31 January 2019). "The Shape of Jazz to Come: Artists to Watch in 2019". Jazziz.com. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
- ^ Ham, Robert (June 2020). "Connie Han: Iron Starlet". DownBeat. Vol. 87, no. 6. p. 39.
- ^ Tom Lord The Jazz Discography (online, wisited 10 January 2019)
- ^ "Connie Han: Iron Starlet". Mackavenue.com. Retrieved October 23, 2022.
External links
| Authority control databases: Artists |
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