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Pureum Jin

Pureum Jin is a South Korea-born, NYC-based award-winning saxophonist, arranger, and composer, establishing herself as one of the leading figures in the jazz world with her recently released album ‘The Real Blue’ through Cellar Live in June 2019. The title of the album ‘The Real Blue’ is a direct translation of her Korean name in English, as the tunes reflect the journey of her life and career after coming to the US – struggling as a woman, immigrant, and a mother, but moving forward with the love and support of family and friends. Pianist and executive producer Jeremy Manasia has put together an all-star lineup, including the great Willie Jones III on drums, and rising stars Luke Sellick on bass, and Sabeth Perez on vocals. Since its release, the album has been receiving rave reviews from prestige jazz magazines, such as a 4-star review from Downbeat on its September issue, being featured as one of the albums on Jazz at Lincoln Center blog’s June New Release Round-up, making a cover of Jazz People Magazine in Korea, etc.

Starting her career in early 2000s in Korea and relocating to the US in 2015 to attend master’s program at MSM, Pureum has been building her brand as a notable jazz icon in both Korea and international jazz scene; a driving force and a leader in the continuing movement of women in jazz. She had been staging in major international jazz festivals as both a leader and sideman including Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival (Scotland, 2012), Takatsuki Jazz Street (Japan, 2010), Seoul Jazz Festival (Korea, 2013), Jarasum International Jazz Festival (Korea, 2009-2014), Jazz Korea Festival (Germany 2012 and 2013), DC Jazz Fest (US, 2018), and GREC Music Festival (Spain, 2018) just to name a few. She was chosen as one of the five rising stars by prestige Korean jazz magazine Jazz People in 2012 and made one of the top five finalists in Jarasum International Jazz Concours (Korea) in the same year. She was also selected as one of the two next generation Korean jazz icons to perform at EBS Space Gonggam on TV in 2015, celebrating their 10-year anniversary of the program.

Soon after graduation from MSM in 2017, she moved to Charlottesville, VA for a year to be with her family, where she actively performed as a member of the great John D’earth’s Sextet and being featured as artist in residency at UVa Jazz ensemble in November 2017. After moving back to NYC in summer of 2018 and with her latest album released in June 2019, she has been quickly establishing herself as a notable jazz figure in the US, and particularly at the epicenter of jazz – New York City. This is evident, as she quickly makes debuts on most notable jazz clubs in the city and getting rave reviews from prestige jazz magazines around the world, including Downbeat, New York City Jazz Magazine, Jazz People, MM Jazz, etc. She was selected as one of the finalists for the Made in New York jazz competition 2018, invited to be on stage as one of the few selected finalists at The Tribeca Performing Arts Center with legends including Al Foster and John Lee for the competition’s awards ceremony. Pureum also has recently won ‘Best Alto Saxophone’, ‘Best Female Rising Star’, and ‘Jazz Artist of the Year’ categories of New York Readers Jazz Awards 2019 hosted by Hot House Jazz Magazine and JazzMobile.

Pureum Jin: The Real Blue

Read "The Real Blue" reviewed by Jack Bowers

by Jack Bowers
October 14, 2019

Although alto saxophonist Pureum Jin would no doubt shrug her shoulders and ask “what's the big deal," the fact remains that she is a South Korean woman playing American jazz and doing so in a way that affirms conclusively that the country's inbred art form is not only universal but gender-neutral. On her debut album, the rather recent graduate of the Manhattan School of Music sounds as assured and comfortable in the idiom as almost any native-born player--male or female—you'd ...

"...Like Woods in his early years, she’s one of those players who sounds like she was never a beginner, already having found her tone, speed of execution and a generously filled ideas bag. Not many young players can put out an hour of top-tier material without filler..." - Downbeat Magazine Review

"...Albums like The Real Blue are worth waiting for. The reward, for the listener, comes in the form of Pureum’s warmth and ingenuity, her confidence and her commitment to her own artistic vision. This album is a gem. Now that it’s finally in the light, we can perceive its brilliance..." - Brian Zimmerman, JAZZIZ Magazine

"...Her improvisation is based on the flow of her conscious, boldly blocks rational decisions for original musical language, and reacts to flowing music with language of jazz. Express only using the language of senses. Cannonball Adderley was such, and so was Kenny Garrett..." - Kijoon Lee, Jazz People Magazine

"...Her inspirations come from nature and personals events in her life and influences from jazz greats like John Coltrane. Influenced, yet original. She expresses a lifetime of events through her sax and with the help of the lineup, pulls together everything to make this one of the best jazz records of the year so far. Watch for what she does next in her career, she has gained confidence and puts her soul into every note..." - CHASECDHIPHOP

"This is alto saxophonist Pureum Jin’s first release and she has gained quite a lot of praise from musicians, including her former boss – Phil Woods and Charlottesville’s own royalty – John D’earth, Robert Jospe, and Charles Evans. She also gives a shout out to Gary Funston and the Charlottesville Jazz Society. Jin’s sax playing is truly outstanding! JIn’s players include Jeremy Manasia (piano), Luke Sellick (bass), and Willie Jones III (drums) with Sabeth Perez adds vocals on a couple of songs." - Dave Rogers, WTJU 91.1FM

"Saxophonist Pureum exudes warmth and ingenuity, and her confidence and her commitment to her own artistic vision shine through. This album is a gem. The music is full of swift, limber energy; it can weave around corners just as easily as it can plunk down roots or shoot up toward the sky." - Tom McCarter, KZSU 90.1fm

"A wonderful parade of young lions on the prowl, this session is led by the latest in a growing line of saxy ladies that blows so mightily it'll leave you wondering why they started naming her-icanes after men a few years ago. A non-stop, no holds barred improviser that careens without letting the wheels roll off the track, there's just nothing here not to like—- especially interesting since the program is mostly originals. Tasty throughout, this is a wining bet that will pay off big." - Midwest Records

"...Alto saxophonist, Pureum Jin, is performing to acclaim nationally and internationally. Pureum is well-known to Charlottesville jazz fans through her residency last year with the Jazz Ensemble and through her work at Miller’s and around the state with D’earth’s Sextet. She recently moved back to NY with her husband (and new baby, Eden) to pursue their various careers. But Pureum now has a musical home in Charlottesville that is always here for her. Within a year of walking into Miller’s one Thursday night in August, 2017, (one of the good things that happened that month!) her energy, creativity, and virtuosity have become an important chapter in Charlottesville’s vibrant jazz story. Pureum is now putting the finishing touches on her new CD, The Real Blue..." - McIntire Department of Music

"...She makes it absolutely clear that jazz, which is Black America’s musical gift to the rest of us, is a universal revelation - the blues changes everything – and Pureum’s playing is drenched and steeped in the blues and in the freedom of expression available to a master improviser..." - John D'earth, McIntire Department of Music

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