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SongAh Chae

South Korean pianist and composer SongAh Chae is based in Valencia. Her music is shaped by literature, scripture, and landscape, creating soundscapes that are spacious, contemplative, and deeply lyrical. For Chae, music is ultimately an act of communication — a way of sharing reflection, emotion, and faith through sound.

Originally trained in classical piano, Chae moved toward jazz after discovering the rhythmic language and freedom of improvisation. She studied at Berklee College of Music in Boston (B.M.) and continued her master’s studies at Berklee Valencia (M.A.), where she developed a personal approach to composition — one that treats improvisation as part of the architecture of the music. Influenced by pianists such as Tord Gustavsen and Bobo Stenson, her work blends refined melodies with rhythmic vitality, moving fluidly between introspective passages and groove-driven improvisation.

In 2023, she formed the SongAh Chae Trio with bassist Manos Stratis (Cyprus) and drummer Joshua Wheatley (England). The trio explores the space between composition and improvisation, creating music shaped by patience, subtle interaction, and deep collective listening — often giving the impression of a single musical voice.

At the heart of the trio’s work is The Sacred Text Trilogy, a three-album project inspired by sacred texts. In the Beginning reflects the imagery and atmosphere of Genesis, while Calling in the Wilderness draws from the Gospels, exploring themes of calling, reflection, and transformation. The final chapter, All Day Long, inspired by the Psalms, will be released in July, 2026, completing a body of work that translates scripture into contemporary jazz through narrative composition and collective improvisation.

SongAh has performed across Europe at festivals including the EFG London Jazz Festival, Madrid Jazz Festival, Feminajazz, Fifty-Fifty Jazz Festival, and the UPV Jazz Festival. Since 2022, she has been a resident performer at the renowned Jimmy Glass Jazz Bar in Valencia. She has released five albums as a leader.

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“All Day Long may not seek to reinvent the piano trio format, but it succeeds in something arguably more difficult. It creates a fully realized musical world, one built on trust, patience, and a profound understanding of collective expression.” – Paris Move (FR)

“For three musicians, there’s a remarkable amount going on, the dynamics always shifting, the music sounding at times like a larger group than it is..” – Jazz Views (UK)

“This album demonstrates that the piano trio still has a lot to say when they decide to abandon the beaten path. The music contained in these tracks doesn't seek immediate approval, but slowly settles in the listener, leaving the sensation of having taken part in a dense, silent, and deeply inspired dialogue.” – Jazz in Family (IT)