Korean-born Joseph Yun had already been playing for 10 years before arriving at MI-Hollywood’s Guitar Institute of Technology in 2014. Since, he’s caught the eye of legacy players like David Benoit, Simon Phillips and Ernest Tibbs – all of whom have collaborated with this emerging talent. Yun joined Preston Frazier to discuss his debut album, 2019’s ‘It’s Time,’ subsequent live dates as a leader and his plans for future projects with Benoit …
PRESTON FRAZIER: Your 2019 debut It’s Time was one of my favorite albums from 2019. How did that project come about?
JOSEPH YUN: Thanks, that means a lot. I started writing and recording my own music in 2017, and my first recording session was in summer 2017. I believe it was July. The title song, “It’s Time,” was my final graduation song while I was attending the MI-Hollywood’s GIT in 2014. I was really proud of it and always wanted to make a real record with this song, so I started to contact musicians. I first contacted bass player Ernest Tibbs. I am a huge fan of the guitar players Dean Brown and Allen Hinds, and I saw Ernest was playing for them when I went to their shows. I contacted Ernest and he was so kind and wanted to help young jazz musicians like me.
Then I started to search for studios and other musicians. Charley Pollard, the owner of Dragonfly Creek Recording Studio, Chaun Dupre Holton on drums and Victor Chu on rhythm guitar joined this project. We recorded two songs but with a recording video team as well, so I can promote my music to more people. I felt something amazing. I didn’t really have a plan for a full-length album, but after this session I decided to make more songs and do the same things over and over until I made my first album. So, I kept saving money, wrote some cool music and contacted world-famous musicians, and then I was able to finish this journey in the summer of 2019. It was a total of four sessions with four different groups of people and, of course, different studios.
PRESTON FRAZIER: I first became aware of the album when I saw a YouTube video of a song featuring Simon Phillips on drums and Ernest Tibbs on bass. How did you get them involved?
JOSEPH YUN: That was the second session. Last time, Ernest helped me a lot making songs together and also there was a lot to learn from him – such as tight rhythm, song making and even his attitude. So, Ernest joined again first in this second project. I emailed a few drummers about this session, but very luckily Simon himself replied to me first. What an honor. I told him about concepts of what I like to do in this project, song ideas and all the details. He liked it and even recommended a few things about studios, song ideas and also other musicians. I love Ernest and Simon’s playing but there was also Jeff Colella. He’s an amazing jazz pianist and also an instructor at MI. He used a grand piano on this one, and it sounds beautiful. I’ve had countless recording sessions, but this one was the best experience ever. We recorded two songs called “Far Away Place” and “Love” at the Brotheryn Studio in Ojai.
PRESTON FRAZIER: You also recorded a live series of YouTube performances, which were more recently released. How did these performances come about?
JOSEPH YUN: After I dropped my first album, It’s Time, I wanted to promote my music more – and the best promotion idea is always a live concert. I decided to film my first Joseph Yun concert, so we did the live recording concert. Of course, my favorite bass player Ernest Tibbs played bass, Julian Pollack (aka J3po) on keys and Donald Barrett on drums. Donald is a killer jazz drummer with a bunch of great techniques, and I love all of his solos. The concert was pretty short, about 50 minutes, because I only have seven songs. But people said it was the perfect length. Anyway, I am still going to write one or two more songs for the next show. The videos are still on my Youtube channel, so anyone can see it. I want more people to watch this concert, and not only for my performance. There are many good parts from the others, such as Julian’s amazing solo and songmaking on his Nord, Donald’s amazing drum solo and Ernest’s tight bass and chops. It was mixed and video edited by me.
PRESTON FRAZIER: Do you anticipate releasing a full-length album of the live performances?
JOSEPH YUN: Actually I want to, because there are different vibes and some of the songs are played as a quartet, rather than as a trio on the original track. Also like I said, there are more solos! I also think there’s more joy watching players’ hands, emotions and vibes in the video. So I may decide later if it’s necessary.
PRESTON FRAZIER: What other projects are you working on?
JOSEPH YUN: Absolutely, I am planning more shows. I am writing one or two more songs now. Seven songs are good enough for one show, but I at least want to play one or two more, because it feels a little short. I am just building my own name and trying to spread my music to the world, so again thanks for this interview. I also work as a sideman, and have been playing for multiple Grammy-nominated jazz pianist David Benoit. Since we are dealing with a COVID-19, we are recording remotely and planning some video projects so people still can enjoy jazz music.
PRESTON FRAZIER: Tell us about your main guitar for recording and road work. What amps do you use?
JOSEPH YUN: Gear talk! My favorite part. I am so proud that I am a vintage guitar lover. My main guitar is a 1966 Fender Stratocaster, with the original pick-up. This one sounds beautiful, and I got way more inspiration after I got this guitar. Also, I am an artist for a guitar amp company called Fuchs, and I use Fuchs’s Blackjack 21 head and Bob Burt’s custom-made cabinet, which Bob himself made for me. I really love this combination. It sounds very fat, warm and I love the full crank sound.
PRESTON FRAZIER: Lastly, what are your Top 5 favorite albums?
JOSEPH YUN: Julian Lage – Arclight: Live in Los Angeles; Dean Brown – Rolajafufu; Allen Hinds – Monkeys and Slides; John Mayer – Where the Light Is: Live in Los Angeles; and Richie Kotzen & Greg Howe – Tilt.
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