Jazz singer Yeahwon, 30, has become the first Korean musician nominated for a Latin Grammy Award.
The Latin Recording Academy announced yesterday the list of nominees for this year’s awards, which will be held in Las Vegas in November. Yeahwon is nominated for the best musica popular brasileira (MPB) album for her self-titled album “Yeahwon.”
The album, released a year ago, was produced by her jazz guitarist husband Chung Sun, a son of Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra maestro Chung Myung-whun. It was created with the participation of several world-renowned jazz artists, including admired Brazilian composer Egberto Gismonti; Blue Note Records pianist Kevin Hays; Jeff Ballard, drummer of the Brad Mehldau Trio; Mark Turner, a renowned contemporary saxophonist; and Brazilian percussion master Cyro Baptista.
After making her debut as a K-pop singer back in 2002 with her album “Lovely,” Yeahwon received attention from the media for her resonant and crystal-clear voice. She worked with a number of prominent K-pop singers including Kim Jin-pyo, Yoon Sang, Lee Seung-hwan and Leessang before leaving for New York to study at the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music in 2004. She graduated with honors two years later.
Last year, Yeahwon signed with ArtistShare, which has four Grammy Award-winning artists in its stable.
Yeahwon married Chung Sun in 2008 and the couple currently lives in New York.
korea joongang daily
