Jazz Articles about Jen Shyu

About Jen Shyu

Album Review

Jen Shyu: Song of the Silver Geese

Read "Song of the Silver Geese" reviewed by Hrayr Attarian

by Hrayr Attarian
December 18, 2017

The dramatic and sublime The Song of the Silver Geese is vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Jen Shyu's magnum opus. On it Shyu draws from her dual cultural ancestry as well as other east Asian heritages to craft memorable performance art replete with dynamic spontaneity, unique instrumentation and exquisite poetry. The nine-piece suite is divided into “doors" and each segment brims with a mystical ambience and a surreal air. Shyu opens “Door 4: Sinom Semarangan" for example, with her resonant ...

Album Review

Jen Shyu and Jade Tongue: Sounds and Cries of the World

Read "Sounds and Cries of the World" reviewed by Angelo Leonardi

by Angelo Leonardi
March 21, 2016

Nota al pubblico del jazz per la decennale collaborazione con Steve Coleman (ma l'abbiamo ascoltata anche con Anthony Braxton, Bobby Previte, Chris Potter e altri nomi di primo piano), Jen Shyu è strumentista e vocalist d'impronta sperimentale, che trae ispirazione da ricerche d'etno-musicologia presso popolazioni tradizionali del Centro e Sud America ma soprattutto di Cina, Sud Corea, Indonesia, Taiwan e Timor Est. Queste due ultimi Paesi sono anche le regioni d'origine dei suoi genitori e sono stati a ...

Album Review

Jen Shyu and Jade Tongue: Sounds and Cries of the World

Read "Sounds and Cries of the World" reviewed by Hrayr Attarian

by Hrayr Attarian
October 19, 2015

Vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Jen Shyu's Sounds and Cries of the World is both raw and sophisticated, fiercely compelling yet intimately fragile and, above all, terrifyingly beautiful. Her sixth album as a leader, it is a collection of seven original compositions and three folk melodies all inspired by the traditions of Korea, Indonesia and East Timor. The exquisitely realized music balances the spontaneous and the choreographed resulting in a superbly dramatic effect. On the dreamlike “Moxa," for instance, Shyu ...

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Album Review

Jen Shyu: Jade Tongue

Read "Jade Tongue" reviewed by Wilbur MacKenzie

by Wilbur MacKenzie
May 19, 2009

Jen Shyu's approach to musicianship is what many would call consummate. Having begun musical studies at a very early age, she has become a highly accomplished pianist, vocalist, dancer and composer. She began to explore improvisation during her studies at Stanford University and has since become a regular collaborator with saxophonist Steve Coleman. This association is reflected in much of her recent work. With her formal studies providing a firm musical foundation, Shyu deftly integrates ethnographical research with innovative new ...