JazzKLUB / Soojin Suh Coloris Trio / The Korean jazz concept - NOSPR

The world first learned about the Korean drummer’s talent from the Near East Quartet albums published under the ECM label. In the case of her trio, far from jazz purism, a good point of reference would be the more ambitious recordings by the Bad Plus band, minus their propensity for showiness. The pieces dedicated to Herbie Nichols and Andrew Hill also shed light on the directions of the leader’s creative explorations. In Suh’s compositions, the aggressive, mathematical ostinatos of the piano neighbour a lyrical minimalism. The interchangeability of the functions necessitates a departure from the label of piano trio and a move towards calling the ensemble a drums-bass-piano trio. Soojin Suh’s playing lends the music a nerve, simultaneously being saturated with colurs, her drumming gestures resembling sudden brushstrokes. On some albums, the artist reaches for her native traditions, using the geomungo or inviting a pansori-style singer. This time, the reference to the Korean heritage is subtle and philosophical – in the trio’s music, we can find an implementation of the „breath of the melody”, an old Korean aesthetic of sound.  

Tomasz Gregorczyk