Take Five with flutist Hanna Kim

Meet Hanna Kim

Hanna Kim is a talented South Korean flutist, arranger, composer, improviser, songwriter, and a bandleader. After she earned her B.A. in Music and the M.M. degree with a concentration in flute performance and conducting in California. After that, Hanna also graduated from Berklee College of Music with a B.M. in 2016 as a dual major in flute performance and songwriting. During her Berklee years, she concentrated on jazz performance as a scholarship student.

In 2019 her arrangement for the H&J Quintet, "My Father's World" was a finalist at the Made in New York Jazz competition. Hanna received various accolades while receiving her education at the Berklee College of Music including the Matthew Marvuglio Endowed Scholarship, the CJ International Scholarship, and the Performance Division Woodwind Award. After her graduation, Hanna performed as a flutist at Os Bohemios with bandmates, consisting of Berklee musicians. She also performed with her band H&J Quintet, H&J Quartet, H&J Trio, and H&J Choro. While living in the Boston area, she performed at the JP Porchfest, Brookline Porchfest, Artweek Boston and Artweek Massachusetts. She also composed and performed music that is inspired by Brazilian music, jazz, and even ecclesiastical music. Her recordings were featured in music publications which brought them to a wider audience.

Her first album, Reminisce (Self-Produced, 2017), which she co-led, demonstrates her professional sense of the music in various styles of jazz with different grooves such as samba, bossa nova, odd meter, and ballad. Later, she released the single "Alone but Together" in 2022 where she completed the composition during one of her New York City trips. In the recording, the listener hears the beautiful sound of her flute playing as well as her sense of composition bringing all the instruments as an ensemble together. In 2023, Hanna released "Murmurando," recorded with jazz pianist Sora Kim. The music has active melody lines with colorful chord changes over traditional rhythms. It was recorded as a flute and piano duet that demonstrated her level of musical conversational skills. This release was featured on Jazzy Korea, one of Spotify's public pages which exposed her music to more listeners in South Korea. Currently, her new single, "Walking in the Truth" has been released. Her goal is to open communication with the audience through her music as a flutist, composer, arranger and improviser.

Instrument:

Flute

Teachers and/or influences?

I have studied at Berklee College of Music where I learned from very influential flutists and teachers such as Matt Marvuglio, Mia Olson, Wendy Rolfe, and Fernando Brandão. I was a principal flutist at Berklee Contemporary Symphony Orchestra. While I was part of the BCSO, I played and performed with influential jazz musicians like Danilo Perez and John Patitucci. I also studied with the flutist Elizabeth Rowe. Her teaching inspired me and helped to keep the beautiful flute tone and sound. Prior to Berklee, I studied and graduated from two universities in California. During my time in California, I studied under flutist Mary Oppermann who inspired me to grow as a musician.

One of my big musical influences is Christian Contemporary Music and Gospel, because I strongly believe in Jesus Christ who is my Lord and Savior. Making joyful sounds to worship my Heavenly Father and praising Him is the most important thing in my life. Since my music has big influences of ecclesiastical music, I try to incorporate three different tastes (Brazilian, jazz and ecclesiastical music) together in my compositions.

I knew I wanted to be a musician when...

I was raised in a Christian family and my parents also loved music. I remember there were big music speakers, like a sound system in my living room and my mom often used it to listen to various types of music like jazz and classical. When I was young, we had to go to a certain shop to buy tapes or CDs because there were no MP3s used back then. I still remember that I went to a record shop to buy a cassette tape for my dad when a new K-pop was released.

I am also very thankful that my parents let me learn musical instruments when I was young. I also played violin before I started learning the flute. For a while I learned violin through private lessons but one day I realized the violin was broken in my case due to the weather. The wooden instrument was hard for a young child to take care of. After this incident, I asked my mom if I could learn the flute. Since then, I have focused on the flute. I think learning instruments during my childhood really helped me to be creative and understand musical and artistic languages in my life.

Your sound and approach to music.

As a flutist I want to project my sound with a resonance that is warm and smooth. In order to make that ideal sound I would need to practice long tone exercises frequently to sustain a note with a good amount of support and resonance in flute playing. Each note is important but the phrasing is more important. If the musical notes are the words in writing, the phrasing would be sentences and paragraphs that give clues for the entire story. I would like to make good story lines in my music—with articulation, phrasing, and tone that fit genre and style in the music. Also as a musician, when I communicate with other instruments, I carefully focus and listen to the other musicians rhythmic, harmonic and melodic elements and movements in order to respond with my sound. Playing improvisation in music is creating spontaneous conversation which makes each musical moment very special.

Your teaching approach

All my flute teachers were inspirational, not only because they were just excellent players but because of their kind and such positive personality in playing. I am very thankful for each of the teachers who taught me to play the flute. Being kind and respectful towards students is extremely important so that it creates a free, non-judgemental environment in the lesson where the students can truly experiment, learn and grow. Being honest and challenging students is equally important as encouraging them. When things are not going well in the lesson, or if the student needs some improvements, I'll let them know which section of the music to spend more time on practicing, so the students can spend more time on their chops and licks in music. Encouraging and challenging students is very important aspects in my teaching.

Your dream band

My dream band would have such creative and talented musical languages at any time or moment in the music. Each of the members would trust and support each other, and respond with their own musical conversation freely in context. The band members would share their everyday ideas of compositions and inspirations. I would also want to create an environment where we could meet up to experiment and to make the sound. As we rehearse, each of the members would freely express what they think in a respectful and supportive manner.

Road story: Your best or worst experience

One of the gigs I had in New York City, My husband and I (my husband is a drummer) were about 1-2 miles away from the venue before the performance. I usually go to the venue early enough before the performance but on that day I felt like departing a little bit late because I was so close to the venue. I thought we could arrive there quickly, even if we departed an hour before the performance. On normal days without traffic, it would take us around 10 minutes for a distance of around 2 miles. However, when we departed, we realized the traffic was so terrible and most of the roads were blocked due to the president's visit to the city on that day. Many roads were blocked by police officers so everyone on the street had to go around and find a way.

Our original plan was to drive to get there but since most of the roads were blocked we parked our car at a garage and walked towards the venue. Yes, we had to walk with all the gear. I recall, at the time, we had to bring various items, such as drum hardware, a mini speaker, flute, music stands and small drums. We brought things out of our car and used a dolly and luggage kind of case and literally started walking towards the venue. It took us a really long time to arrive at the venue because we had to go around so many streets and carry all the instruments and gear. It was like a nightmare situation for musicians. Through these incidents I have learned that I should always be early enough, at least two to three hours before even if I'm close to the venue because we would never know what will be happening in the city that day.

Favorite venue

I would say Berklee Performance Center in Boston, MA. All of the sound engineers know what they are doing and know how to make the sound beautiful. The lights and the atmosphere of the stage are nicely set up which gives a good vibe to performers. I felt really comfortable projecting sound and playing the flute with other musicians at this venue. I also like their backstage and waiting room, as well.

Your favorite recording in your discography and why?

Each of the releases— Reminisce, "Alone but Together" (Self-Produced, 2022), "Murmurando" (Self-Produced, 2023), and my new single "Walking in the Truth" are very special to me in their own way. I am grateful for each musician who recorded music with me. I am also very thankful for the duet recording "Murmurando" that I released back in 2023. It was recorded with my dear friend Sora Kim at the PBS studios in Westwood, MA. The song is one of the well known Brazilian choro tunes composed by Fon-Fon also known as Octaviano Romero Monteiro. I am so grateful that I was able to record this beautiful tune with Sora Kim. The pianist Sora has a very excellent sense of musical playing full of rhythmic and harmonic sense, and I truly enjoyed playing with her. The improvisations we made and the musical conversation of the C section are my favorite. I like how we were so concentrated on the playing which felt like me and Sora were in the same musical zone, where I fully trust and respond to the piano's musical interplay. Whenever I listen to it, it brings me back to the day of the recording and makes me smile.

What do you think is the most important thing you are contributing musically?

I hope my music can bring happiness and enjoyment to each listener's life. I may not be able to meet each of my listeners face to face, but I hope my musical language and sound touches their heart and makes them comfortable in their life. Through some of my ecclesiastical-inspired music, I hope that each of the listeners would get closer and experience true love from our Heavenly Father and would accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior. This would bring ultimate and never-changing peace in their heart.

Did you know...

I am also a painter. I painted acrylic and had a group exhibition in New York City in 2022. It was like a dream opportunity for me. The gallery was so beautiful and big, filled with lots of visitors.

The first jazz album I bought was:

Can I share the first jazz artist I remember who made me fall in love with jazz? Back in my junior high school years in South Korea, I loved going to the local library to listen to Laura Fygi's recordings. One of my favorite songs from her recordings was "Let There Be Love." Her voice and music always filled my heart with butterflies.

Music you are listening to now:

Kirk Franklin: Kirk Franklin and the Family (GospoCentric Records,1993)
Fred Hersch: Fred Hersch at Jordan Hall: Let Yourself Go (Live at Jordan Hall) (Nonesuch Records, 1999) Diego Figueiredo & Derico: Organic (Atração, 2018))

Desert Island picks:

Kirk Franklin: Kirk Franklin And The Family (GospoCentric Records, 1993)
Cesar Camargo Mariano & Romero Lubambo: Duo (Sunnyside Communications, 2002)
Stefano Bollani: Carioca (EmArcy, 2008)) and Que Bom (Arlobar Srlu, 2018)
Matt Marvuglio: Why Cry? (South Shore Music Productions, 2001)
Bill Evans and Don Elliott: Tenderly—An Informal Session (Milestone, 2001)
Hubert Laws: Laws' Cause (Atlantic, 1969)
Chick Corea: Friends (Polydor, 1978)

How would you describe the state of jazz today?

Jazz is evolving and transforming with different elements like modern fusion and bossa nova and there are many new faces, young musicians like DOMi + JD Beck, Laufey, and Samara Joy. I think the jazz scene is evolving in a positive way and drawing in more young listeners.

What are some of the essential requirements to keep jazz alive and growing?

We need more quality young jazz musicians in the field to grab the attention of the younger generation of listeners. I think an effort to collaborate with other art forms like dancing and paintings will also help keep jazz alive and growing. l also think many primary schools should focus more on jazz education in the music programs in the ensemble or harmony classes. This way, the younger generation will know how to play and listen to jazz in their lives. This way, jazz will keep on living and continuing from generation to generation.

What is in the near future?

My new recordings will be released. I am very thankful and excited to release more recordings.

What is your greatest fear when you perform?

As a flutist, if I am nervous on the stage, my lips will not have a proper embouchure to generate the quality sound which would distract from the phrasing and improvisation in the music.

What song would you like played at your funeral?

Christian hymns like "Amazing Grace" (John Newton) and "The Eastern Gate" (Isaiah G. Martin). People can play my compositions and recordings as well.

I want everyone to be joyful at my funeral, because I will be in heaven with the Lord.

What is your favorite song to whistle or sing in the shower?

"Silver and Gold" by Kirk Franklin
"Jesus Loves Me"—Traditional hymn (lyrics by Anna B. Warner, music by William B. Bradbury)

If I weren't a jazz musician, I would be a:

Painter or any kind of artist who creates beautiful things.

If I could have dinner with anyone from history, who would it be and why?

I would like to have dinner with Chick Corea and would like to talk about his recordings and would like to hear the stories behind his albums as well as his inspirations. After the dinner, if he would be okay with it, I would like to ask him if I could play a duet with me on flute and him on piano. I would be bringing my compositions and arrangements as well. It would be an honor to play a duet with Chick Corea.

If I could go back in time and relive an experience, what would it be?

During my Berklee years I was a principal flutist in the Berklee Contemporary Symphony Orchestra and performed with Danilo Pérez and John Patitucci with the orchestra. It was such a memorable time, so I would like to relive it.

I would also like to relive the moment of my private flute lesson time with Professor Matt Marvuglio. I'm so grateful for his jazz flute teaching in the lessons and it would be great to re-learn and play more duets with him. Although he passed away, I'm grateful for his teaching and kindness.

What's the song or piece of music you wish you could hear again for the first time?

Growing up in South Korea, going to Karaoke together with parents was so common back in the days in my country. It would be great if I could hear my dad's singing voice again. He used to love singing a Korean Christian song, called "Love—Love Is Always Patient" (Duyoung Chung). My dad was good at singing with a nice low voice. I really loved listening to his singing. My dad's love and sacrifice towards me definitely inspired me to grow as a healthy and loving musician which I am so grateful for.

What is your favorite quote or encouraging words to share with musicians today?

"He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him." (Psalm 40:3, NIV)

Is there anything else you want to share?

My new single, "Walking in the Truth" was released and available on streaming services. Please listen and I'd love to hear what you think.

Comments