Min Rager

Min Rager Biography

Min Rager is one of Canada’s premier female jazz pianists and composers. Born in Seoul, Korea, she moved to Montreal in 1997 to pursue a professional music career. She holds her Master’s degree in Jazz Performance from the Schulich school of music at McGill University graduating with the distinction of “ Outstanding achievement in Jazz Piano”.

At the Montreal International Jazz Festival in 2005 her Quintet was nominated for the “Grand prix de jazz General Motors”. Also that year, Min was the recipient of the “ Best new Artist” award from Montreal’s L’OFF Festival de Jazz.

In 2008, Min received a commission from CBC to compose a jazz suite for 2 pianos. The work, lasting 10 minutes, was submitted to the European Broadcasting Union as a part of “ The Handel Project 2009” to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the composer’s death. Min has also performed on several National Film Board of Canada soundtracks. She is featured on the soundtrack for the internationally acclaimed documentary short film “ Letters from Pyongyang” directed by Jason Lee. Min has released 2 CDs as a leader, “ Bright Road” and “ First Step” on Effendi Records based in Montreal. In 2017, Min independently released her 3rd CD “Train Of Thought”. She has toured extensively in Canada and continues to perform actively with some of the top jazz musicians in North America including Don Thompson, Terry Clarke, Kieran Overs, Donny McCaslin, Joel Frahm, Walt Weiskopf , Kenji Omae, Kevin Dean, Andre White. Min is currently on faculty at the Schulich school of Music of McGill University where she teaches courses and Jazz piano lessons in the jazz department.

Awards

2005. Francois-Marcaurelle award " Best new artist" from L'OFF Jazz Festival

Min Rager: Train Of Thought

Read "Train Of Thought" reviewed by Dan McClenaghan

by Dan McClenaghan
November 8, 2017

Born in Seoul, the now-Montreal-based pianist Min Rager made the move to the west to attain a jazz education, landing at the Schulich School of Music at McGill University, where she now teaches. Rager has chosen the quartet--saxophone and rhythm--as her form of expression for her third CD release, Train Of Thought. It's all originals, beginning with the title tune, a spirited ride that rolls along just a bit left of center from the mainstream with an edge ...

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Album Review

Min Rager: First Steps

Read "First Steps" reviewed by Raul d'Gama Rose

by Raul d'Gama Rose
November 9, 2009

It is not often that a woman is given much elbowroom in contemporary music, no matter how good she may be. However, when she is as good as Min Rager on First Steps, more than elbowroom had better be made for her and her piano. True, Rager has been preceded by a celestial pantheon of female pianists, including towering personalities Mary Lou Williams and Marian McPartland,, the elusive Jane Getz, and Geri Allen. To stake her claim and strut her ...

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Take Five With...

Take Five With Min Rager

by AAJ Staff
October 29, 2009

Meet Min Rager: At the Montreal International Jazz Festival during that same year, her Quintet was nominated for the Grand prix de jazz General Motors. Also that year, Min's Trio (featuring Andre White on drums and Alec Walkington on bass) performed at Montreal's L'OFF Festival de Jazz where she was the recipient of the Best New Artist award. In 2008 Min received a commission from CBC to compose a jazz suite for 2 pianos. The work, lasting 10 minutes, was ...

309

Album Review

Min Rager: Bright Road

Read "Bright Road" reviewed by Budd Kopman

by Budd Kopman
January 9, 2006

Blessed with the gift of melody, Min Rager has created an album of original compositions full of smiles, hope, laughter, and just plain great listening. The Korean native is now completing her master's degree at McGill University in Canada; Bright Road is her debut on record. The sound created by the quintet is huge, which can only be explained by the sharp arranging of the trumpet and alto sax, and how Rager herself comps and solos on piano behind them. ...

Recording

Montreal Based Pianist Min Rager Releases Third Album "Train Of Thought"

Source: All About Jazz
November 9, 2017

Pianist Min Rager is proud to announce the release of Train of Thought, the third album to showcase her creative, original music. One of the country’s brightest jazz pianists and composers, Rager's latest release features an all-Canadian quartet including Nova Scotia-based saxophonist Kenji Omae, who delivers highly inspired playing throughout the record. Bassist Fraser Hollins and drummer Dave Laing (who appeared on Rager's previous discs) return to help render memorable versions of the pianist's varied compositions. The music itself ranges ...
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Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Min Rager

Source: Michael Ricci
February 4, 2014

All About Jazz is celebrating Min Rager's birthday today!

Born in Seoul, Korea, Min Rager began her jazz career performing in local jazz clubs. Her reputation quickly grew and by 1996 she was performing with some of Korea\'s top jazz musicians in a variety of settings from clubs to concerts. In 1997 she moved to Montreal to attend McGill University where she studied with Wray Downes, Jeff Johnston, Kevin Dean, Andre White, Gordon Foote and Jan Jarczyk. While at McGill... ...
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Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Min Rager

Source: Michael Ricci
February 4, 2013

All About Jazz is celebrating Min Rager's birthday today!

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Min Rager

Source:
February 4, 2012

All About Jazz is celebrating Min Rager's birthday today!

137

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Min Rager

Source:
February 4, 2011

All About Jazz is celebrating Min Rager's birthday today!

Min Rager

Website | Photos | Articles

Follow Min Rager

Put AAJ's Musician of the Day box on your website or ...
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Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Min Rager

Source: Michael Ricci
February 4, 2010

All About Jazz is celebrating Min Rager's birthday today!

JAZZ MUSICIAN OF THE DAY Min Rager

Website | Videos | Articles

Follow Min Rager

Put AAJ's Musician of ...
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Contest

Announcing the Winners of the "Min Rager - First Steps" Contest

Source: Michael Ricci
January 27, 2010

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Contest

Enter the Effendi "Min Rager - First Steps" CD Giveaway Contest

Source: All About Jazz
December 23, 2009

All About Jazz members are invited to enter the Effendi Records “Min Rager - First Steps“ giveaway contest starting today. We'll select FIVE winners at the conclusion of the contest on January 22th. Click here to enter the contest

(Following Min Rager at AAJ automatically enters you in the contest.)

Good luck! Your Friends at Effendi Records

About Min Rager and First Steps Min Rager is, without a doubt, one of Canada's most promising young jazz ...
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"On the Bright Road, McGill University jazz student Min Rager is more than able to keep up with her profs. A hard-hitting, sophisticated pianist, she leads a powerful, straight-ahead quintet that includes faculty members Kevin Dean (trumpet) and Andre White (drums), as well as bassist Kieran Overs and alto saxophonist Donny Kennedy. Rager writes sumptuous songs with plenty of harmonic meat and built-in swing. The veterans tear through them, and recent McGill grad Kennedy impresses with his assurance and big, tart sound." —Peter Hum, The Ottawa Citizen

"Pianist Min Rager's debut CD showcases her strong attack on the keyboard and bright world of view. This upbeat outlook is a common thread in these eight original compositions, which she also arranged for this quintet... Trailing and Romanticism are ballades with Trumpeter Kevin Dean where the pianist's lyricism is deeply entrenched." —Irwin Block, The Montreal Gazette

"...reminded me of Bobby Timmons/Joe Zawinul glory days of the Cannonball Adderley Quintet - crackling, exuberant, rich with the essence of the blues... Min Rager, whose affable yet vigorous style fit perfectly. Not to sleight the rest of the band, but she is a talent to watch out for." —Mark Keresman, Prime Time Magazine

"Some Seoul music played and composed by one of the larger talents presently on the Montreal jazz scene. An impressive debut." —Len Dobbin, Montreal Mirror

"She has tremendous spirit and I love her compositions. The band is terrific and well worth paying attention to." —Claire Lawrence, Producer, CBC's Jazz Beat

"Blessed with the gift of melody, Min Rager has created an album of original compositions full of smiles, hope, laughter, and just plain great listening. The Korean native is now completing her master's degree at McGill University in Canada; Bright Road is her debut on record. The sound created by the quintet is huge, which can only be explained by the sharp arranging of the trumpet and alto sax, and how Rager herself comps and solos on piano behind them.

This is jazz from the mainstream that is anything but flabby or shallow. What you hear is what you get, but the music is so uplifting, so right there it inspires and refreshes. There is no listener fatigue, despite the fact that the music is so up. Look not here for quirkiness or out playing, but rather for music making that soothes the soul while simultaneously engaging the mind in many different ways." —Budd Kopman, All About Jazz

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