June Yun: Enlightenment - Solid Waves

South Korean vocalist June Yun's compositional debut, Enlightenment -Solid Waves, explores the feelings and emotions elicited by the concepts of light and dark. These things are difficult to describe in words but translate, with her music, into compelling, atmospheric soundscapes full of shadows, apparitions, angelic imagery and mystical moods. Vid Jamnic's resonant vibraphone murkiness lays a backdrop for Yun's emotive clarity of expression on the disc's opener, "Little Mighty Soul." The lyrics are cryptic and bring to mind mid-career Joni Mitchell or early Rickie Lee Jones. Pianist Shai Maestro, who did a remarkable stint in saxophonist Oded Tzur's quartet, injects a succinct delicacy to the proceedings, and guitarist Brad Kang brings in some snap and sting on this marvelously arranged tune.

Thematically cohesive and beautifully executed—deftly using a limited palette—the nine-tune set paints a poetic mood and never wavers. Yun's backing crew plays with an understated and virtuosic grace. This is music which sounds tailor-made to be played in small, intimate clubs, for audiences willing to listen deeply.

Nicola Caminiti's ruminative, late-night alto saxophone takes the vibe into jazz land on "You, Whom She Saved," her robust notes entwined nicely with Yun's vocal. "Light Cycle" levitates, dancing on air, while the closer, "Mirror (Dear Mom)," features pianist Maestro's eloquent intro, leading in Yun's hushed, prayer-like, celebratory vocal.

In a day of downloads—music hiding in the entrails of computers—kudos for the handsome cover art which depicts to perfection the experience of June Yun's lovely, out-of-the-ordinary artistry.