He's got the chops, he's got the taste, and he's got that big golden sound. Because of that, the future of jazz trombone? Yeah...it's looking real bright.
Celebrating those who provided years of mentorship, along with the ongoing momentum through the arrival of this debut recording, trombonist Andrew Kim offers a result that is so much more than a senior capstone project. Lineage is a formidable album, a testament to Kim's embrace and diligent immersion in the tradition under the guidance of master musicians Michael Dease (the producer here) and lately, Marshall Gilkes, displaying a clear sign that he's poised to benefit this legacy through his own innovative contributions. Along with saxophonist Sharel Cassity, pianist Xavier Davis, bassist Rodney Whitaker and drummer Ulysses Owens Jr., Kim's arrangements of classics by J.J. Johnson & Curtis Fuller, along with five of his own compositions, the band bristles and swings from the outset.
"Andrew Kim is a part of the current renaissance in jazz. His playing is expressive, precise and shockingly virtuosic. He is a wonder." Randy Napoleon
Track Listing:
1 Kimposter 5:53
2 The World Falls Away 5:52
3 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego 6:42
4 Cube Steak 4:51
5 Nostos 5:31
6 Welcome Home 5:37
7 Discovered Ease 5:50
8 Bit of Heaven 5:52
9 Awaken 4:58
10 Stella by Starlight 6:08
Compositions by:
(1,5,6,7,9) Andrew Kim; (2) Rodney Whitaker; (3) Xavier Davis; (4) J. J. Johnson; (8) Curtis Fuller; (10) Victor Young
Performers:
Andrew Kim - trombone
Sharel Cassity - alto sax, tenor sax, flute
Xavier Davis - piano
Rodney Whitaker - bass
Ulysses Owens Jr. - drumset
Guests:
Randy Napoleon - guitar (5,10)
Michael Dease - baritone saxophone (3,7)
Steven Bowman - bass (1,3,5,9)
Production Info:
Produced by Michael Dease
Recorded, mixed & mastered by Corey DeRushia
at Troubadour Recording Studios, Lansing, MI
Recorded on May 16, 2025
Front cover photo by Yujen Tsai / ÜJIN Studio
Cover design & layout by John Bishop
Reviews of Lineage
Paris Move (Thierry De Clemensat)
5-STARS Andrew Kim's Lineage: A Debut That Honors Tradition While Quietly Redefining It
Some debut albums introduce a promising young musician. Others announce the arrival of a distinctive artistic voice. Andrew Kim's Lineage, due for release on Origin Records at the end of the month, belongs firmly in the latter category. Long before the album ...
Jazz Weekly (George W Harris)
Trombone player Andrew Kim flexes his post-bop muscles on this album with Sharel Cassity/as-ts, Xavier Davis/p, Rodney Whitaker-Steve Bowman/b, Ulysses Owens Jr/dr and guests Randy Napoleon/g and Michael Dease/bari. The rhythm team of Whitaker, Davis and Owens is a plus her, providing a strong backbeat for the leader on a hip "Kimposter" and allowi ...
Making A Scene (Dee Dee McNeil)
Trombonist Andrew Kim is a recent graduate of the Jazz Studies Program at Michigan State University. In celebration of his higher learning achievement, the first thing he wanted to do was to record. He is supported on this project by his mentor, Michael Dease, who is also the album's producer.
"As a college professor with over 20 years of teach ...
