Eugenia Choe - So We Speak

As a child of immigrants and, now, a woman trying to make her way in the New York jazz scene, pianist Eugenia Choe faced pressure and stigmas that could have derailed her ambitions. Thankfully, Choe chose to accept the challenges that were posed to her and soar beyond them. On her new recording, So We Speak, Choe escapes her worries and doubts to find peace and beauty through music.

Choe’s family immigrated from South Korea to make a new home in the United States. They chose to settle in the suburbs of Atlanta, Georgia, where Choe experienced a typically strict Asian American home life. Being the only fluent English speaker in her household, Choe was intimately involved in all of her family’s affairs.

Through it all, Choe was able to excel on the piano, studying classical piano at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and jazz at the New School for Jazz in New York City and SUNY Purchase. As a bandleader, Choe led piano trios in the New York area for nearly a decade.

Family issues and the pandemic forced Choe to step away from music for some time. When she returned, Choe met vibraphonist Yuhan Su and established a strong friendship and musical rapport. The two began meeting on Sundays and holding impromptu sessions to orchestrate a language between their piano and vibes.

The inspiring work with Su began to make Choe consider recording a duo album. Then an old friend, the Berlin-based vocalist Song Yi Jeon, informed Choe that she would soon to be coming to New York for some projects. This surprise opportunity sparked Choe to rearrange a number of her pieces for this unique setting of keyboards, vibes, and voice.

Once Song Yi did arrive, the trio conducted a handful of rehearsals before they went into the studio at Acoustic Recording in Brooklyn on September 21, 2023.

The pieces that Choe wrote reflect on what it means to be a human in this topsy turvy world and reflects on how Choe herself overcame her own vulnerability through perseverance to find her strength. To tell the story, Choe introduces Margie, an imaginary girl who personifies Choe and her struggles.

The recording begins with “Margie,” the melody of which came to Choe while at home. Turning off the lights, the music spilled out of Choe and she was able to write the rest in 30 minutes. The delicate tune begins with a classical influence before it begins to blossom into more freely played improvisation as Margie opens up. The title of “This or That” refers to Choe’s breezy temperament. Played as duet with Su, the tune exercises Choe’s rhythmic capabilities as a composer. The title track is a gorgeous, simple duet with Su and is supposed to be a quiet, intimate conversation through music.

The whimsical “Fly” is a fluttering introduction to “Nabiya.” The title is the Korean word for “hey, butterfly” and the tune is based on a Korean lullaby. The gorgeously introspective piece is about the loneliness of the transformation from caterpillar to butterfly but, also, the beauty of the results, much like the years of practice and pain to become a proficient musician. “River Farm” takes its name from the suburban neighborhood where Choe grew up. Through a thoughtful solo Fender Rhodes performance, Choe reflects on how a place that seemed to carry so much negativity during her childhood can now be looked back on with tenderness.

The aggression in “You Get What You Paid For” mirrors the stern but objective guidance that Choe received from her mother, whose message was that you can only achieve great things through hard work. The piece showcases the trio at their dynamic best, allowing wonderful solo spaces for all. The meditative piano solo, “After All,” introduces the final piece, “Silver Lining,” a duo piece for piano and vibes that reinforces Choe’s optimism despite everything else.

Eugenia Choe has gone through much to become the person and artist that she is today. Her new recording, So We Speak, is a testament to the beauty that can emerge from dedication, patience, and persistence.