Jihee Heo Trio

Jihee Heo from South Korea, Jihee Heo is a New York-based jazz pianist and composer. Heo has performed at acclaimed festivals and venues such as Smalls, Mezzrow, Zinc, Django, The Washington D.C. Jazz Festival, Leverkusen Jazz Festival, The International African Arts Festival, The Jersey Shore Festival, Bergen Pac, Harlem Stage, and Jacques Pelzer in Belgium among others. Heo’s Nonet album “Passion” was released in 2015, offering a dynamic platform for her to fully express her artistic voice in a large ensemble format featuring soaring compositions and bold arrangements, laced with experimental music. “Passion” has been reviewed to critical acclaim by The New York City Jazz Record, MM Jazz Korea, and Grammy-winning saxophonist Kirk Whalum. On November 20th, 2020, Heo released her first trio album “Are You Ready?” with drummer Rodney Green, and bass player Marty Kenney through OA2 Records. it has been featured in many magazines such as Downbeat Magazine, All About Jazz, France Musique, MM Jazz Korea, Jazz at Lincoln Center’s monthly jazz album roundup, and New York City Jazz Record, etc. On September 21st, 2023, Heo recorded her 2nd trio album at the historical jazz place “Rudy Van Gelder Studio” with the top jazz players Joe Farnsworth on Drums, Alexander Claffy on Bass, and Vincent Herring on Saxophone, and expected to release it in 2024. Heo holds a master's degree from the Manhattan School of Music and a bachelor's degree from the Conservatorium van Amsterdam. “Pianist Jihee Heo has a beautiful legato touch that builds on sturdy lyricism and lustrous harmonies but her work also is filled with delicate, detailed figures”-Downbeat “Fluid single note runs join colorful chordal voicings, as Heo establishes where this unit fits into the great tradition of the jazz trio”- All About Jazz Moving the art of the piano trio forward, Heo has a great touch and feel for the keys and knows just how to put it all together in a nonstop show of effervescence that never loses its fizz. -Midwest Record “What makes this debut so refreshing are its ambitious environs and cohesive approach”-New York City Jazz Record “Jihee is a rising star. and A great band leader” -Joe Farnsworth “ Jihee Heo done for me that rare and beautiful thing I value and cherish most about incredible music, She has inspired me.” -Kirk Whalum “ Jihee Heo has absorbed the history and tradition of Jazz. She is promising voice at the piano pointing to the future of jazz”- Vincent Herring