Welcome, Hey Rim Jeon!

Born in Seoul, Korea, Hey Rim started playing piano at the early age of four, and by nine was giving her first public performances in classical music. By seventeen she had received numerous awards and significant recognition for her powerful and creative interpretation of the classics: from Bach to Chopin to Liszt. During this period, Hey Rim, gifted with perfect pitch, began learning music by ear. Deeply influenced by the dazzling improvisation of Oscar Peterson, Hey Rim decided to embark on a musical path that would both support her new found passion for jazz, and build upon her already formidable classical training. In September of 1997, Hey Rim came to Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachussetts, to pursue her contemporary music education. Studying at the college gave her the opportunity to learn from jazz greats such as JoAnne Brackeen, Laszlo Gardony and Ray Santisi. While a student at Berklee, she received the piano department's prestigious "Piano Chair" award for jazz performance. After completing her Bachelor’s degree (Summa Cum Laude) in 2001, Hey Rim continued her studies, and received a Master’s degree (Academic Honors) in Contemporary Improvisation from the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, Massachusetts in 2004. While at the conservatory, she studied with Ran Blake, George Garzone and Michael Cain, who’s influence opened her eyes to new and fascinating areas of music performance: from avant-garde to world music. Hey Rim is an active performer both nationally and internationally. She performs regularly with her band and as a soloist in the New England and New York areas. Notable shows include an appearance at the Lincoln Center, New York, the Jazz Informance in Chesapeake, Virginia, and the International Association for Jazz Education in Toronto, Canada. She has also performed at some of Asia’s top jazz venues in Korea and Japan, including the main stage of the inaugural Jarasum International Jazz Festival where she was billed alongside such luminaries as Dennis Chambers, Chris Minh Doky and Hiram Bullock. In 2003, Hey Rim released her self-titled CD Hey Rim Jeon & Friends on the Take Note Music (TNM) label, which reached CD Baby’s 40 top selling jazz albums list. Her original trio provides the backdrop for this 12-song compilation of originals and jazz standards. In May of 2007, Hey Rim released Alone, a compilation of nine solo piano compositions on the Akasaka Kougei Japanese label. Her current project, Mona Liza Puzzle, includes performances by Herbie Hancock’s rhythm section; Terri Lyne Carrington, James Genus and Richie Barshay, Also featured is virtuosic saxophonist Dave Liebman. Hey Rim also recently collaborated with popular Vietnamese singer Doan Trang. Doan Trang’s new album “Negative Proof” (Am Ban), which features an original composition by Hey Rim, won the Golden Prize in Vietnam in 2007.