Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Sukyung Kim: Lilac Hill

Sukyung Kim: Lilac Hill

By Mike Jurkovic
July 2, 2020
View read count

Lilac Hill, Korean-born, Brooklyn based pianist/composer

Sukyung Kim

piano
b.1992

" data-original-title="" title="">Sukyung Kim's five song, self-produced, engaging debut EP fervently introduces a musical sensibility that is an airy, traditional blend of youthful wit and studied style with a lean, casual sense of swing at its heart.

The title track starts the proceedings confidently enough with tight and dynamic group interplay, proving an early and undeniable testament to Kim's solid understanding that as one player shines so too shines the whole ensemble. "Stargazer" opens with drummer

Jongkuk Kim

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Jongkuk Kim's emphatic, breathy, stuttering rhythmics, and features Kim's misty and determined improvised solo and some keenly smooth cocktail interplay from bassist

Luca Alemanno

bass

" data-original-title="" title="">Luca Alemanno, alto saxophonist

Ethan Helm

saxophone

" data-original-title="" title="">Ethan Helm and guitarist Paul Jubong Lee (all of whom prove themselves to be equally adroit players throughout) before briefly falling into a Grateful Dead styled floating breakdown back to a cool, neo-bop lounge sound. as with Kim's Rhodes-led, and drummer-Kim driven "Summer Days," it's an enjoyably neat treat of twists and turns—some expected, some not—and wholly characteristic of a young artist still finding her voice, unafraid and ready to kick up some dust in the years and challenges ahead.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

Lilac Hill; Stargazers; Bluebird; Summer Days; California.

Personnel

Sukyung Kim

piano

Ethan Helm

saxophone

Paul JB Lee

guitar

Luca Alemanno

bass

Jongkuk Kim

drums

Album information

Title: Lilac Hill | Year Released: 2020 | Record Label: Self Produced

PREVIOUS / NEXT

Nicholas Krolak Interview
< Previous

Kj?lvatn
Next >

Support All About Jazz

All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who make it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

Go Ad Free!

To maintain our platform while developing new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity, we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for as little as $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination vastly improves your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.