Seungmin Jung: Anecdotes

Korean-born bassist Seungmin Jung journeyed to America to study at the Manhattan School of Music. His debut album, Anecdotes features a cohesive sound crafted by a group of like-minded international players who go deep into the leader's compositions.

The opener, "Blue," has a melancholy flavor spiced with hope. Trumpet and saxophone rise into the sky; the rhythm section—featuring a guitar, piano, drums and Jung's bass—tether the horns to the ground with a flexible tenacity and a complex weave of a backdrop.

"Three Black Beans and a Boy" is a nod to Jung's dog. The bass introduces the piece, followed by a Tal Kalman's hallowed saxophone tone that growls into a anguished mood as Daphnis Moglia's trumpet tries ot soothe, followed by pianist Bomin Kim, who delivers a eulogy, heartfelt and uplifting,, before guitarist Johannes Ravn Hagmund-Hansen speaks a spare truth, surrounded by Felix Ambach's bustle with sticks and brushes connected to the bass heartbeat from Jung.

Overall, Anecdotes has the feeling of a personal inward journey, introspective and cerebral in an approachable way. The playing is top-notch, the group dynamic superb as the sextet immerses itself in Jung's mostly dark but often labyrinthine compositional world. Generous room is here for solo excursions all around, but a chamber music vibe hangs over the proceedings, all in the group working toward a common goal

The closer, "Firefly," has a mysterious shimmer. It is an homage to the luminescent flying insect that Jung encountered in New York—lighter-than-air entities swarming on their numerous unpredictable paths, surrounded by dark, yet giving off light. Something to look to for inspiration, as Seungmin Jung did..