49 (Forty Nine)

As the first Korean to be selected by the Blue Note Records as Blue Note Local Artist, Jazz pianist Yoonchan Kwak is an artist who has constructed his own artistic style through outstanding melodic skills and sophisticated techniques. He also established a solid harmonic concept. After he graduated from Muse School of Music in Tokyo in 1989, he went to the United States in 1993 and graduated from Berklee College of Music-- the cradle of Jazz education that raised world-famous maestros. He returned to Korea and built connections through performing with both national and international musicians. He has performed and recorded with global musicians like John Clayton, Drew Gress, Gregory Hutchinson, Jeff Hamilton, John Patitucci, Ricky Lawson, and Alex Al. In the year of 2000, he was the first Korean to be selected as an EmArcy (affiliated with Universal) labeled artist and released his first album, Sunny Days, with John Clayton (Bass) and Jeff Hamilton (Drums). Likewise, with EmArcy, he released his second album, Daisy, with Gregory Hutchinson (Drums), Jeff Clayton (Saxophone), and Larry Koonse (Guitar). In 2005, he was selected as the first Korean artist by the Blue Note label, which had led the beginning of bebop and hard bop and continues to write the history of jazz in cooperation with the best musicians. Under Blue Note and with John Patitucci (Bass) and Nasheet Waits (Drums), he released his third album titled Noomas and it was sold as Yoonchan Kwak Trio. Then, his first album, Sunny Days, and second album, Daisy, were reissued by Blue Note. In 2007, Blue Note released his fourth album, Yellowhale, which was recorded with Drew Gress (Bass) and Nasheet Waits (Drums). 49 (Forty Nine) is an album in which you can hear his journey of life through music. Not only is he the producer but also he played and mixed the songs in the album. He appreciates all the musicians and Brian McKnight who participated in the album making 49 (Forty Nine) ever more colorful with beautiful and warm sophisticated sounds.