Linda May Han Oh

Linda May Han Oh
Linda Oh performing in Oslo in 2019
Linda Oh performing in Oslo in 2019
Background information
Birth nameLinda May Han Oh
Born (1984-08-25) 25 August 1984 (age 40)
Malaysia
GenresJazz
OccupationMusician
InstrumentBass
Websitelindamayhanoh.com

Linda May Han Oh (born 25 August 1984) is an Australian jazz bassist and composer. She is currently Associate Professor at the Berklee College of Music and is also part of the Institute for Jazz and Gender Justice.

Biography

Born in Malaysia,[1] Oh was raised in Western Australia.[2] When she was 11, she started to play the clarinet and at the age of 13 bassoon. She went to Churchlands Senior High School. As a bass guitarist, she started in a high school band; and in 2002, she attended the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts, where she picked up the upright bass and studied solo transcriptions of Dave Holland. Her thesis was on the classical Indian music rhythms in Holland's solos. After more scholarships she moved to New York in 2008, where she completed her master's degree at the Manhattan School of Music, among others with Jay Anderson, John Riley, Phil Markowitz, Dave Liebman and Rodney Jones as supervisors.

On upright bass with Pat Metheny (2018)

In 2008, she released her debut album Entry with own compositions and a cover version of Red Hot Chili Peppers Oztrax, with the trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire and drummer Obed Calvaire.[2] Oh also contributed to albums with the alto saxophonist Jon Irabagon (Outright, 2008), Sarah Bemanning (Løvetann Klokke, 2010), Brian Girley (Tro, 2011) and Art Hirahara (Hygget & Meditasjoner, 2014).[3] In 2012, the album Initial Here with pianist Fabian Almazan was released,[4] followed by Sun Pictures (Greenleaf), among others with Ted Poor. In addition, she has performed with Slide Hampton, T. S. Monk, Nathan Davis, George Kabler, James Morrison, Nasheet Venter, Joel Frahm, Pat Metheny, Steve Wilson and Billy Childs. She lives in the Harlem district in New York City. She is married to Cuban American pianist Fabian Almazan since 2018.

Awards and honors

  • 2004: Winner of the competition IAJE Sisters in Jazz
  • First prize for best presentation at her exam.[5]
  • 2006-2008 she was a scholarship holder of the program Betty Carter ' s Jazz Ahead, Banff center, program for creative improvisation, and Steans Institut.
  • 2008: Participant of ASCAP Young Jazz Composer’s Award
  • 2009: Semifinalist of the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Bass Competition.[6]
  • 2010: Winner of the Bell-Prize for young Australian jazz musicians of the year.
  • 2023: Winner of the 'Best jazz instrumental album' at the Grammys alongside Terri Lyne Carrington, Kris Davis, Nicholas Payton & Matthew Stevens for New Standards Vol. 1

Discography

As leader

  • Entry (Self Released, 2009)
  • Initial Here (Greenleaf Music, 2012)
  • Sun Pictures (Greenleaf Music, 2013)
  • Walk Against Wind (Biophilia, 2017)
  • Aventurine (Biophilia, 2019)
  • The Glass Hours (Biophilia, 2023)

As guest

With Dave Douglas

  • GPS Vol 2: Orange Afternoons (Greenleaf Music, 2011)
  • Be Still (Greenleaf Music, 2012)
  • Pathways (Greenleaf Music, 2013)
  • Time Travel (Greenleaf Music, 2013)
  • Brazen Heart (Greenleaf Music, 2015)
  • Serial Sessions 2015 (Greenleaf Music, 2016)
  • Brazen Heart: Live at Jazz Standard (Greenleaf Music, 2018)
  • Songs Of Ascent: Book 1 - Degrees (Greenleaf Music, 2022)

With Art Hirahara

  • Libations & Meditations (Posi-Tone, 2015)
  • Central Line (Posi-Tone, 2017)
  • Sunward Bound (Posi-Tone, 2018)

With Jim Snidero

  • Stream of Consciousness (Savant, 2013)
  • Main Street (Savant, 2015)
  • Project-K (Savant, 2020)

With others

References

  1. ^ https://lindamayhanoh.com/biography
  2. ^ a b "Linda May Han Oh: The Places She'll Go". NPR.org. 7 April 2010. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
  3. ^ "Linda May Han Oh". Discogs.com. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
  4. ^ Turner, Mark F. (20 May 2012). "Linda May Han Oh: Initial Here". All About Jazz. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
  5. ^ A New Approach to Rhythmic Bass Improvisation: an exploration of rhythmic devices used by Dave Holland and the rhythmic aspects of North Indian Classical Music.
  6. ^ "2009 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Bass Competition And Gala Concert Featuring All-Star Tribute To Blue Note Records At Kennedy Center October 11". All About Jazz. 22 September 2009. Retrieved 15 November 2017.