Often found at theaters and museums, Kwon Mee-yoo has covered a wide range of cultural fields from K-pop and dramas to theater and fine art for over a decade. Now as K-Culture Desk editor, she tries to connect Korean culture with global readers through fresh perspectives.
Maestros daughter-in-law makes US debut
By Kwon Mee-yoo
Yeahwon Shin, Korean jazz vocalist and daughter-in-law of famed conductor Chung Myung-whun, is finally releasing her successful United States debut album for local fans this month.
The self-titled record was released last September in the U.S. and recieved rave reviews for her jazzy vocals with a mix of Brazilian tunes.
Shin had released an album titled “Lovely” in Korea in 2001. Later, she entered New School University’s Jazz and Contemporary Music program in New York where she graduated with honors in 2006.
For the U.S. disc, she collaborated with various highly acclaimed musicians including Brazilian composer Egberto Gismonti, bassist Ben Street, drummer Jeff Ballard, pianists Kevin Hays and Alon Yavnai, accordionist Rob Curto and percussionist Cyro Baptista.
Along with Brazilian numbers such as “Travessia” and “Chovendo Na Roseira,” she also sang the Korean folk song “Sae Ya Sae Ya,” interpreted in her own way and featuring tenor saxophonist Mark Turner.
Shin’s album was released by the label Artistshare, which allows musicians and other creative artists to be funded by their fans. Despite the short history of only seven years, the music label has housed talented artists from around the world with four Grammy winners and 11 Grammy nominations. Shin is the first Korean to have joined the label.
Her album made it into the top 10 list of iTunes’ Hot Chart Jazz section.
Sun Chung, jazz guitarist and producer of Shin’s album, is her husband and the second son of the renowned conductor Chung. They attended New School University program together.