Jihee Heo

Jihee Heo is a New York–based jazz pianist and composer whose music bridges tradition with global influence. Rooted in the jazz lineage and shaped by her Korean heritage, her sound is both expressive and forward-looking. She has performed at leading venues including Smalls, Birdland, and Jazz at Lincoln Center, and continues to establish herself as a distinctive voice in today’s jazz scene. Jihee Heo-PIano, Boris Kozlov-Bass, Chris Beck - Drums

jihee Heo: A Distinctive Voice Bridging Tradition and Global Influence in Modern Jazz

South Korean pianist and composer Jihee Heo stands as a compelling voice in New York City’s contemporary jazz landscape. For over 15 years, she has cultivated a distinctive artistic identity, weaving the city’s rich jazz legacy with her global influences to create a sound that is both rooted in tradition and forward-looking in spirit.

Heo has performed at internationally recognized venues and festivals including Smalls, Mezzrow, Birdland, the Guggenheim Museum, Dizzy’s Club at Jazz at Lincoln Center, Zinc Bar, The Django, and Sunset Sunside in Paris. Her artistry has earned praise from acclaimed saxophonist Vincent Herring, who describes her as “a promising voice at the piano, pointing to the future of jazz.”

Born in South Korea, Heo pursued her studies in Amsterdam before earning her Master’s degree from the Manhattan School of Music. These formative experiences have shaped a musical language that is both culturally grounded and globally informed.

Deeply rooted in the jazz tradition, her music integrates Korean sensibility with the expressive depth of jazz, soul, and gospel. The result is a sound marked by emotional clarity, rhythmic vitality, and a refined sense of storytelling.

More than a performance, Heo’s music offers a nuanced exploration of identity, migration, and artistic evolution—positioning her as an artist whose voice resonates within the present moment while pointing toward the future of jazz.

Co-Presented with the Embassy of Korea