Jazz pianist Helen Sung is one of four Queens-based composers chosen as winners of the 2010 Con Edison Musicians’ Residency: Composition Program. In this interview she describes her influences, current projects and what it's like to perform with some of the living jazz greats.
Helen, when did you start composing?
I started composing while a student at the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Performance. The great bassist Ron Carter was artistic director, and I’ll never forget what he said: if one wants to develop/find his/her own “voice” he/she should compose music. Thus, we each had to compose one piece per week, and then during our weekly ensemble class, Mr. Carter would have us play each student’s work and then critique it. No one is more surprised than me that I would be able to write compositions and even perform them!
You’ve studied and performed with many of the greatest masters of jazz. Can you tell us about one or two really unforgettable moments with one or more of them?
Getting to play with Wayne Shorter, one of my favorite musicians and composers of all time, was an incredible thrill. Being around him is a rare experience – listening to him play, and talk (he has such a way with words…and notes!). We also toured India & Thailand with Wayne and Herbie Hancock. I still remember the first time I saw Herbie – we were at the departure airport – initially it was surreal to see him in three-dimensional space! Having Ron Carter as our artistic director month after month was an unforgettable two years. Working with trumpet great Clark Terry has been a great honor – what a wonderful legacy he has as a performer and educator. I’ll always remember when another trumpet great, Dizzy-protégé Jon Faddis, told me I needed to learn about the blues. Piano master Barry Harris, who carries the bebop torch so brilliantly…to tell you the truth, every single jazz master was unforgettable.
You toured parts of Africa last year with your group, NuGenerations… What were some of the highlights?
One highlight was the Harare International Festival for the Arts (HIFA) in Zimbabwe. Everyone was saying how dangerous things were in Zimbabwe, how economically unstable it was, along with widespread poverty, suffering, and scarce resources; thus, it was especially inspiring to see a country (and continent) gather peacefully to celebrate arts and music for a week. Artists and ensembles from all over the world performed all types of music – it was truly a global event, and a testament to the power of the arts as a force for good. May HIFA live long and prosper!
Meeting and interacting with young musicians in every country we visited were also a highlight: from Harare’s Book Cafe where musicians, artists, poets, and actors meet to share ideas and engage in art; to the universities in Johannesburg and Windhoek (Namibia); to the dynamic young talent that is being encouraged and nurtured in the townships…all great stuff.
What kind of work have you been able to accomplish during your residency at Flushing Town Hall thus far?
I’ve been able to finish a song project called Sung With Words – it’s a collection of mostly original music where I’ve taken poems and set them to music. Writing for and working with vocalists has been a great learning experience. I hope to record the project before the end of the year. Dana Gioia, poet and former Chairman for the NEA, was the original inspiration for this project (the first poem I set was one of his), and we plan to collaborate on a new song cycle together, co-creating the music and words. Fortunately, I’ve been in a heavy writing phase, so I’ve also completed quite a few new instrumental compositions that will be on the next couple of recording projects. Finally, because of a recent gig that had a focus on young people, I discovered pianist Chick Corea’s Children’s Songs (20 short pieces for solo piano) and have been arranging them for jazz piano trio as well as solo piano – that’s been a lot of fun.
How has the Con Edison Residency helped you?
Well, to get the pragmatic stuff out of the way first – air conditioning! Although I was fortunate to be away from NYC during the hottest part of July, the rest of this summer has still been quite warm and muggy. It’s a great blessing to have a comfortable working environment at Flushing Town Hall – I can relax and focus on the tasks at hand. My apartment’s noisy window unit doesn’t quite cut it… Also, to be able to work on the Steinway grand pianos at Flushing Town Hall is amazing. When the instrument is inspiring, one can reach new heights and hear new things. And Flushing Town Hall’s art gallery, where one of the pianos is housed, is a wonderful space. I find the rotating work exhibits stimulating and enjoy checking them out either before or after my work sessions.
Learn more about Helen Sung on her website, which has her upcoming performance itinerary, contact information, her CDs and an e-mail sign-up.
Photo credit: Jason A. Cina
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