Connie Han
Background information
Born (1996-02-04) February 4, 1996
Los Angeles, California, US
GenresJazz
Occupation(s)Musician, composer
Instrument(s)Piano
LabelsMack Avenue
Websitewww.conniehan.com

Connie Han (born 4 February 1996) is an American jazz pianist and composer. 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 in high school, where she was taught by drummer Bill Wysaske.[1] Han opted not to study music in 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 such as Blade Runner and the anime movie Akira.[5] A New York Times reviewer at the time praised her technique and knowledge of the history of the music.[6]

In 2019, Han was named a Steinway Artist.[7] 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."[8]

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".[9]

Discography

Year recorded Year released Title Label Notes
2015 The Richard Rodgers Songbook Self-released with Chris Colangelo (Kontrabass), Bill Wysaske (Schlagzeug)[10]
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][11]
2022 Secrets of Inanna Mack Avenue Quintet with Bill Wysaske (drums), John Patitucci (bass, acoustic), Rich Perry (tenor sax), Katisse Buckingham (flute)[12]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Fukushima, Gary (November 2022). "Connie Han: The Jazz Warrior-Goddess". DownBeat. Vol. 89, no. 11. pp. 30–35.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Payne, Brian (2020). "Connie Han: Iron Starlet". Jazz Journal. Retrieved October 23, 2022.
  3. 1 2 Morrison, Allen (November 2018). "Connie Han: Crime Zone". DownBeat. Vol. 85, no. 11. p. 60.
  4. 1 2 "Crime Zone". Mackavenue.com. Archived from the original on 5 September 2019. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  5. ↑ "Connie Han". Mackavenue.com. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  6. ↑ Pareles, Jon; Caramanica, Jon; Coscarelli, Joe; Ganz, Caryn; Russonello, Giovanni; Gardner, Elysa (September 12, 2018). "Pop and Jazz Fall Preview: 70 Albums, Shows and Festivals". The New York Times. p. AR109. Retrieved November 15, 2018.
  7. ↑ "Connie Han - Steinway & Sons". Steinway.com. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  8. ↑ Zimmerman, Brian (31 January 2019). "The Shape of Jazz to Come: Artists to Watch in 2019". Jazziz.com. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  9. ↑ Ham, Robert (June 2020). "Connie Han: Iron Starlet". DownBeat. Vol. 87, no. 6. p. 39.
  10. ↑ Tom Lord, The Jazz Discography (online, accessed 10 January 2019).
  11. ↑ "Connie Han: Iron Starlet". Mackavenue.com. Retrieved October 23, 2022.
  12. ↑ Connie Han: Secrets of Inanna album review @ All About Jazz: Connie Han: Secrets of Inanna album review @ All About Jazz, access-date: June 16, 2023
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