Yeahwon – Yeahwon – ArtistShare

by | Oct 26, 2010 | Jazz CD Reviews | 0 comments

Yeahwon – Yeahwon – ArtistShare A50106.1, 53.1 min. [sunmusicproductions.com] [9/20/10] *****:

(Jeff Ballard – drums; Ben Street – bass; Kevin Hays & Alon Yavnai – pianos; Sun Chung – guitar; Cyro Baptista/Scott Kettner/Valtinho Ansastascio – percussion)

There have been a number of Asian jazz-influenced female vocalists who are extremely popular there but except for songstress Jacintha – who is popular with the audiophile crowd – have not met with much success in the Western world. Most – even with a great voice – just don’t quite have the English lyrics down.  Well, make way for Korean vocalist Yeahwon Shin, who doesn’t even do any tunes on her 11-track CD in English – she jumps straight to Portuguese, which she has studied intensively, plus two tunes in Korean.  You may feel like you’re hearing the well-known Aquarela do Brasil for the first time – it’s so straightforward and touching.

The singer, born in Seoul, soon developed a laser-like focus on Brazilian music. She says “Brazilian music has this happiness, and although there’s a sadness in the lyrics, the melodies are very beautiful…Brazilian music…gave me this sense of hope.”  She has assembled some of today’s most versatile musicians, of which many have had experience playing with Brazilian musicians. She has the assistance of guest saxist Mark Turner on Sae Ya Sae Ya, which Korean folk song translates as “Hey bird, hey bird” and concerns the unfortunate Japanese occupation of Korea. Brasil’s great Egberto Gismonti is so impressed with Yeahwon’s voice and style that he contributed the final Epilogue track of the album, as well as having his Palhaco translated to Korean for another track on the album.

This is the best sort of crossover – bridging various cultures with an album of jazz-flavored songs in her soft and intimate style.

TrackList: Chovendo Na Roseira, Travessia, Aquarela do Brasil, Eu Nao Existo Sem Voce, Rosa Morena, Sae Ya Sae Ya, Dindi, Palhaco, Inutil Paisagem, Na Baixa do Sapateiro, Memoria e Fado.

 — John Henry

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