Joep van Rhijn's flugelhorn cannot tell a lie in jazz album 'Between Fact & Fiction'

Korean pianist Yoonseung Cho, left, and Dutch flugelhorn player Joep van Rhijn, April 16, 2024 / Courtesy of Kim Shinjoong

Dutch trumpet player Joep van Rhijn teams up with Korean pianist Yoonseung Cho on a new 50-minute album that explores the tension between fact and fiction.

"It started with just an interest in the discussion about misinformation and different bubbles people are living in," van Rhijn, a long-term foreign resident, told The Korea Times. "That's a very serious topic, but in my opinion in music — or art in general — this tension between fact and fiction is what makes it magical."

The eight songs on "Between Fact & Fiction" are pensive, minimalist and gentle, while also displaying the warm sensitivity van Rhijn is known for.

Van Rhijn admitted that fact and fiction are a complicated theme to explore using the abstract music of instrumental jazz.

"In instrumental music, it's hard to have a storyline which is clear for the audience. I guess it's similar with pictures or paintings in which there is a general mood or feeling and every viewer kind of creates their own story. And that's exactly what I like about music," he said. "The flugelhorn is my voice, it's just a tool, so it can't be dishonest. With my compositions I have a basic idea of a — factual or honest — story and express that in my music; the listener might interpret the story quite differently which makes it fictional."

He said he has sometimes seen something dishonest, or maybe inauthentic, in some musicians.

"I guess the artist could be in search of their voice or distracted by other things and I think that can sound dishonest," he said. "Sometimes with certain musicians who I feel like are distracted by other things — unrelated to music such as following a trend, following other's wishes, not staying true to themselves — can sound a bit dishonest."

But he has nothing but great things to say about Cho, his collaborator on "Between Fact & Fiction," which was released March 19.

"Pianist Yoonseung Cho has a very open mind and open ears," van Rhijn said. "He has a commitment to music which I respect a lot. His playing is not rooted in one style and he has a lot of ideas. That's why I felt this collaboration would result in a unique sound."

The two have been collaborating for years, and van Rhijn says he has worked on projects where Cho was the pianist, producer, composer and arranger. They also both worked on singer-songwriter Paul Kim's recent single "Love Letter."

The idea to collaborate on this album formed in January 2024, but they've also done a lot of other work before coming together.

Van Rhijn first started playing the trumpet at a young age in a local wind band in the Netherlands. He got his introduction to jazz when he went to the U.S. for a year as part of a high school exchange program. After returning to his home country, he continued his studies in music at the Prince Claus Conservatoire. He also became active in Amsterdam's music scene, playing in bands including The Jig, Rotterdam Ska Jazz
Foundation, Jamal Thomas Band and Flower To The People.

He moved to Korea in 2012, first living in Daegu for several years and continuing his music career. Here, he has played at major festivals and venues and collaborated with traditional Korean musicians, modern dance groups and K-pop groups. His projects include Blow Out, a funk and Latin quartet with drums, keys/synth bass, tenor sax and trumpet, and LIME, an unconventional chordless quartet with flugelhorn, tenor saxophone, contrabass and percussion, exploring Latin, funk and Baroque. There is also LIME XL, adding in drums and more horn players.

Prior to "Between Fact & Fiction," van Rhijn recorded three earlier albums in which he was the band leader, two with his trio and one with Blow Out.

"My previous albums didn't have much of an overall plan. I just wrote music and when it felt like I had enough suitable compositions I planned the recording," he said. "Without giving away too much, because the abstract nature of music is what I think makes it magical, this time I wanted to start with a concept and start working with that in mind. So, this time during the whole process of composing, rehearsing, recording, artwork and design I kept this theme in mind. But to be honest, not the whole storyline was clear for me before we recorded the music and for me, it's still developing."

He added that he is working with Cho on future plans. Meanwhile, van Rhijn, who turned 40 last year, also finds he has to work harder to get the same results that he enjoyed in earlier years.

"I feel like life as a musician in Korea has quite changed over the last few years," he said. "I am not sure what the exact reason is — it might be just me getting a little older, a dip in the economy or maybe the instability in government leadership. I am trying to stay flexible while making a living with music and also keep creating my own stuff."

Joep van Rhijn poses with his flugelhorn, April 16, 2024. Courtesy of Kim Shinjoong

He said he has shifted to doing more remote recording work and helping to prepare the second edition of the Jirisan Jazz Festival later this year in fall.

Seven years ago, he left Daegu for Dongtan in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, where he has a workspace called Hidden Sound, where he works, teaches and practices. Every month, they hold a concert at Hidden Sound for a few lucky spectators. The next one on April 25 will feature Yongjun Chon (piano), Daeho Kim (contrabass) and Mihyang Moon (vocal).

"This new city is still developing, so also culturally speaking there is not so much going on," van Rhijn said about Dongtan. "People in this area are hungry for culture so this is one way for us to accommodate that."

"Between Fact & Fiction" is available through Poclanos. There will also be a listening party at PLATZ2 SEONGSU on Saturday. Follow @joepvanrhijn and @space_hidden_sound on Instagram for more information.