Flow

Jihee Heo, a pianist born in Korea, educated in Amsterdam, and now living in New York, is back with her second album, Flow. Joined by bassist Alexander Claffy, drummer Joe Farnsworth, and for two songs, alto saxophonist Vincent Herring, Flow is an engaging listen from beginning to end from a young and swinging Jazz musician who is a lot of fun to listen to. Getting off on the right foot, "New Yorker Step" is a brisk, swinging burner that lets us know exactly what's coming over the course of the next eight songs. "Extreme Noise Blocker" is an in-the-pocket toe tapper that has had me bobbing my head over the course of numerous listens. Vincent Herring turns up on "The Hidden Giant," where an already very good band becomes an even better one, jamming through a lively Bossa Nova-esque groove with a lot of grit and fire. Heo turns in a lovely version of Duke Ellington's "In a Sentimental Mood," toward the end of the album that I know will be a go-to for many of us on the air. But then again, I think most of these songs will be go-to's. Flow is a fantastic glimpse of an artist on the ascent, and I look forward to more music from her in the future!