Label: AUM Fidelity, 2026
Personnel - DoYeon Kim: 25-string and 12-string gayageum; Mat Maneri: viola; Henry Fraser: bass; Tyshawn Sorey: drums.
The gayageum—the ancient Korean zither—is not a frequent sound in jazz, but Brooklyn-based DoYeon Kim is poised to change that, blending her Korean roots with structured avant-garde and free-improvised momentum. For her debut album, Wellspring, Kim gathered a resourceful group of New York musicians, including violist Mat Maneri, bassist Henry Fraser, and acclaimed drummer Tyshawn Sorey.
“The Beats of Distant Thunder” provides an absolutely thought-provoking opening, drawing on a rich, centuries-old Oriental texture that feels highly cinematic as it is infused with both emotional ache and occasional humor. The flowing stream of dotted gayageum figures and enchanting viola plucks runs atop the tessellated foundation of bass and drums. At times, it feels as though we are watching a film by Zhang Yimou, Im Kwon-taek, or Chen Kaige. Rich in depth and complexity, the piece evolves magnificently in texture, eventually centering on Sorey, who delivers a head-snapping spectacle on toms and cymbals.
“Walking in a Dream” is no traditional lullaby, seeming more suited to dramatic puppet theatre as it grows increasingly intense and thunderous. Kim uses her powerful voice here, reaching explosive heights on “Sun Shower”, where rambling, heavy rhythms give way to beautiful viola melancholy supported by kaleidoscopic drum colors. Toward the end, a circular viola riff intertwines with the gayageum runs before dissolving together with the rest of the band.
Eschewing elaborate harmonic feints, “Whispers Among Dawn” and “Diffraction” are two spontaneous improvisations that place Kim firmly in the spotlight. Here she plays the 12-string gayageum (all the other pieces feature the 25-string version), the latter benefiting from Fraser’s tangible bass anchor.
The album is a call for society to come together, and the extended “Linear System”, which clocks in at 15 minutes, seems to evoke ritualistic practices of boisterous intensity in pursuit of that goal. It features ghostly vibes, supernatural forces, and buzzing sequences that seem out of this world before gradually settling into meditation as Kim begins to vocalize. The cutting-edge “Calculus of Our Souls” leans on musical intelligence to break through boundaries, bringing us something truly special. It culminates in a gut-wrenching finale that appears to blend avant-garde, Korean tradition, and punk rock all at once.
Kim’s microtonal pitch inflections and assured voice speak to the modern world, leaping out of the speakers with freedom and originality. The quartet’s kinship is evident throughout, but without Kim’s artistic vision and leadership, the music wouldn’t have resonated so deeply.
Favorite Tracks:
01 - The Beats of Distant Thunder ► 04 - Sun Shower ► 07 - Calculous of Our Souls