When the leather-clad Connie Han sits down at a piano, she makes magic happen. It’s no wonder that she is one of NPR’s Artists To Watch for 2020. She, along with bassist Ivan Taylor and drummer Bill Wysaske dazzled on “Extended Stay,” which we are thrilled to present to you this week. As we celebrate jazz (a little bit extra) this month, it’s great to see young artists like Connie continuing to breathe new life into the art form.
Watch the video of Connie and her band playing "Extended Stay" in the WRTI Performance Studio
“If there’s ever been a reason for not judging a book by its cover, well, Connie Han would absolutely be among the top reasons. And at a minimum, she would rank high on that list,” quips WRTI Jazz Host Live Sessions Executive Producer J. Michael Harrison.
“This acclaimed 24-year-old Steinway Artist from Los Angeles is making statements with her gifted playing and also possesses a certain panache that is uniquely hers within the jazz community. Just over a year ago, Connie’s trio graced the WRTI Performance Studio with a mini set of music to remember.
Considering the extreme challenges confronting us all on a daily basis, we thought Connie’s enthusiastic, charismatic and spirited performance would be an excellent Video of the Week to help kickoff Jazz Appreciation Month 2020.”