I AM NOT A VIRUS

JORDAN VANHEMERT QUINTET

 

Jordan VanHemert saxophone

Rob Smith trumpet

Lisa Sung piano

Kazuki Takemura bass

Andy Wheelock drums

 

I AM NOT A VIRUS, freshly released by composer Jordan VanHemert and Big Round Records, is a collection of contemporary music uniquely fitting for this unprecedented juncture in human history. The collection of lively, piano-driven jazz band performances takes inspiration from a wide swath of timely subjects—everything from the coronavirus pandemic to racially charged police killings and the resulting Black Lives Matter protests of 2020. Featuring tight horn arrangements and energetic percussion, VanHemert’s compositions are sophisticated yet distinctly approachable. Alongside these original works is his arrangement of the traditional Korean Arirang— through his reharmonization of the Korean melody in an American jazz style, VanHemert meditates on his own Korean-American identity. Compelling music composed with purpose, I AM NOT A VIRUS is a must-listen for 2021—and beyond.

--PARMA Recordings

 

 

Release Date: March 12, 2020

Catalog #: BR8966

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