Award winning vibraphonist Yuhan Su is another Gary Burton/Chick Corea-inspired musician, lured away from classical to the art form where improvisation reigns, jazz. This Taiwanese-born, New York based artist, left her homeland pursuing a jazz education at Berklee College of music, a frequently told story. Yuhan Su draws on her strengths to survive the intense transitions as a single woman migrating to the US to learn a completely different style of music, knowing no one, new to the language and cultures. And she plays the vibraphone, not an easy instrument to lug around given she’s carless.

Yuhan is an avid composer whose quality was recently recognized in Taiwan with the Golden Melody Award, the Taiwan-equivalent of the Grammy. Yes, a big deal! She won it for the composition “Hi-Tech Pros and Cons” from her recent album, Liberated Gesture. In this episode, we talk about these topics among others that delve into her compositions, her passion for composing, themes reflecting personal experiences and social issues. And, of course, there’s music, this time from Liberated Gestures (Sunnyside Records). The Yuhan Su Quintet includes: Yuhan Su-vibraphone, Matt Mitchell-piano, Caroline Davis-alto saxophone & poetry reading (“She Goes to a Silent War), Marty Kenney-acoustic bass/electric bass, and Dan Weiss-drums.

The episode opens with “Hi-Tech Pros and Cons” (6:27), you’ll hear “She Goes to a Silent War” (poetry read by Caroline Davis) about two-thirds into the conversation, then close with “Siren Days (7:31). Thank you for listening to Strictly Jazz Sounds. Enjoy and listen to live jazz.

Steve Braunginn

Photo by TeFan Wang