She Didn’t Listen To Jazz Until She Was 25 Now A Jazz Princess
South Korean Youn Sun Nah is acknowledged as one of the most prominent jazz vocalist with her records and live performances. She gave a concert at Cemal Reşit Rey on the 11th of November.
Youn Sun Nah was accompanied by Tomek Miernowski on the guitar, piano and synthesiser and Rémi Vignolo on the drums, acoustic and electric bass guitars.
The vocalist didn’t forget to speak in Turkish to the crowded audience. She said “How are you? I am very happy to see you.” in Turkish and received a big round of applause. Nah was born in Seoul as the daughter of a choir conductor father and a musical actress mother. She studied literature and was invited to Korean Symphony Orchestra to sing gospel due to her affinity with the piano since childhood and her jazz education. She completed her education in music in Paris and continues to live there.
Youn Sun Nah, Tomek Miernowski, Rémi Vignolo (Photo: CRR Concert Hall)
An Eclectic Jazz Vocal
Youn Sun Nah released her first solo album Reflet in 2001 and her career includes nine studio albums, many prestigious awards and countless performances around the world as a solo artist in business for almost 20 years.
She combined her vocal style she improved through jazz training with many other genres that span from classical music to rock.
Youn Sun Nah received countless awards in her professional music career that started in 2000 and was named “The Best Artist” in the crossover category in Korean in 2004. She attracted attention with her performance during the 2014 Winter Olympics. She became a goodwill ambassador representing South Korea for UNESCO’s International Jazz Day.
“I didn’t listen to jazz until I was 25 years old”
Youn Sun Nah is a favorite in the jazz circles. However she admits that she hasn’t listened to jazz until she was 25 years old. Youn discovered jazz when she moved to Paris to receive singing and jazz training. She describes that period as “It was a new music that I wasn’t used to hearing. I had to start with the basics. I had to get to know the soul and musicians that created jazz and I spared time for that.”
Youn’s favorite thing about jazz is that it is a free genre that isn’t limited to a time period or geography.
