Song Yi Jeon with Dianne Reeves

Saturday 116 November

South Korean modern jazz singer and composer Song Yi Jeon presents a range of music, performing with her nonet and trio, and with her mentor, Dianne Reeves.

 

The singer, who refined her unique sound at Berklee College of Music, captivates and mesmerises listeners with the fluidity and emotional depth of her voice, and her exceptional improvisational skills.

This performance celebrates the conclusion of a two-year association between Song Yi Jeon and vocalist Dianne Reeves through the Rolex mentoring programme, featuring an appearance from the five-time Grammy-winning Reeves, alongside performances from Song Yi Jeon’s ensembles.

The Song Yi Jeon Nonet, a dynamic ensemble comprising nine jazz musicians from diverse nationalities and cultural backgrounds, presents an enthralling blend of contemporary jazz and traditional Korean percussion music known as ‘Samulnori’.

Inspired by the ritualistic and communal aspects of Korean peasant music, Song Yi Jeon has crafted compositions for the nonet that weave the vibrant rhythms of Samulnori with the soulful beats of jazz, highlighting the universal connections within these diverse musical traditions.

Additionally, an unconventional trio led by Song Yi Jeon showcases the synergy of their diverse cultural backgrounds and innovative artistic expressions.

The performance features ‘Synchrony of Sound: Rhythm, Origin of All’ by the Song Yi Jeon Trio; the Song Yi Jeon Nonet with Samulnori; and a special segment featuring Dianne Reeves and Song Yi Jeon, followed by a Q&A session.