Hyewon Park - Take the "A" Train

Hyewon Park

Take the "A" Train
self-released; 2023

By Jamie Funk
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Hyewon Park, is a distinguished South Korean jazz pianist, composer, and producer. With an academic background at Berklee College of Music, Park stands as an accomplished undergraduate, having notably contributed as a composer for the Berklee Jazz Concert Orchestra under the direction of Greg Hopkins. Her accolades include the prestigious Berklee’s Annual Commencement Processional Composition Awards and the Clare Fisher Award from the Harmony and Jazz Composition Department of Berklee.

Not too long she released "Take the "A" Train." Park mentions “The "A" train had a meaning of bringing people from Harlem to the center of NY in the past. So, I arranged this song in the meaning of bringing myself, who is a jazz composer, to electronic music while keeping my musical identity as a jazz composer.”

With a keen intent to bridge her jazz roots with the electronic realm, she navigates this transformative amalgamation while preserving her distinctive identity as a jazz composer. The song unfolds with a commanding beat, evocative horns echoing from a distance, and an intricate interplay of jazz-infused drums, bass, and piano. Instantaneously cinematic, the composition paints vivid imagery within the canvas of the listener's mind. The spotlight seamlessly shifts among lead instruments, showcasing a dynamic interplay. 

What grabbed me the most was the intricate fusion of genres, an exploration that takes center stage in "Take The "A" Train." The sub-bass beats inject an electric pulse into the composition, converging with a techno beat reminiscent of the rhythmic patterns found in jungle music.  

The composition's dynamism is a striking feature, oscillating between varying energies that ebb and flow throughout its duration. Towards the end of the song it creates a sensation akin to being whisked away, progressively descending down a tunnel until one reaches the metaphorical destination.

Hyewon Park's "Take The "A" Train" stands out as a commendable testament to her prowess as a jazz composer venturing into the electronic domain. I look forward to hearing more in the not too distant future.

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