This Friday, July 12, The Jazz Gallery is proud to kick off its summer season with a performance by the Jihye Lee Orchestra. An alumnus of the Berklee College of Music and the Gallery's Jazz Composers' Showcase, Lee released her debut large ensemble record April in 2017. The richly-voiced and cinematically-paced music reflects on the 2014 sinking of the ferry Sewol of the coast of Korea, which claimed over 300 lives. Lee's elegiac composition "You Are Here (Every Time I Think of You)," featuring fluegelhorn soloist Sean Jones, rounds out the deeply-affect album.https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=65&v=a9HFF-VeWkwSince the release of April, Lee has continued to add new compositions to her band's book. In an interview with Jazz Speaks, Lee commented how her move to New York from Boston impacted these new compositions:

Our living environment is very important, I think. Music is the reflection of your life right? Since I’ve moved to New York, I think the energy of the city has changed my music in a good way. There’s more crunchiness, more anger, but in a positive way. The crunchiness is in the harmonic material. I'm using a lot of minor 2nds and 9ths. We learn in school, “Don’t use minor 9ths,” but in order to make personal, emotional statements, you need to use those forbidden harmonic moves.

Before coming out to hear Lee's compositions at the Gallery on July 12, check out The Jazz Gallery's SummerPass, which offers general admission to every Gallery show in July and August for one low price. The Jihye Lee Orchestra plays The Jazz Gallery on Friday, July 12, 2019. The group is conducted by Ms. Lee and features Aaron Irwin, Alejandro Aviles, Dan Pratt, Lucas Pino, and Carl Maraghi on woodwinds; Brian Pareschi, John Lake, Alex Norris, and Matt Holman on trumpets; Mike Fahie, Matt McDonald, Nick Grinder, and Becca Patterson on trombones; Can Olgun on piano; Alex Goodman on guitar; Evan Gregor on bass; and Mark Ferber on drums. Sets are at 7:30 and 9:30 P.M. $25 general admission ($10 for members), $35 reserved cabaret seating ($20 for members) for each set. FREE for SummerPass holders. Purchase tickets here.