Jazz vocalist Kang Yun-mi releases first album in Korea

Cover of “Story Haven’t Told You Yet”

By Kwon Ji-youn

Up-and-coming jazz vocalist Kang Yun-mi has released her first album in Korea.

The disc, titled “Story Haven’t Told You Yet,” is comprised of six songs Kang wrote and recorded during her stay in the Netherlands where she studied jazz, and two she recorded here in Seoul. All eight songs boast an intriguing classical twist that comes from her days as an aspiring concert pianist.

Kang studied classical piano at the University of the Arts Bremen in Germany before she decided jazz was a better fit for her. She earned a bachelor’s degree from the Prince Claus Conservatoire in Groningen and a master’s from Conservatorium van Amsterdam. In 2011, she became the first Asian to finish as runner-up in the Netherlands Jazz Vocalist Competition.

Kang, whose musical inspiration comes from the work of jazz legend Nat King Cole and American jazz musician Betty Carter, will hold a showcase celebrating the release of her first album on Dec. 12 at the Seoul Jazz Academy’s SJA Hall.

Tickets cost 25,000 won for adults and 15,000 won for students. For more information, call 070-4643-8488.