Helen Sung Trio - Helenistique (2006)

"I've always wanted to record a CD of jazz standards - I enjoy the challenge of making a standard "mine," and here are some of my favorites. The original "H*Town" is in reference to my hometown Houston, TX, a place with a twang all its own... ~ Helen. 

Helenistique, Helen's remarkable follow-up to 'Push', finds her in a trio setting with the amazing drummer Lewis Nash and young bass phenom Derrick Hodge. Piano great Benny Green writes of the recording "I am certain that anyone... will readily appreciate the life-affirming joy, the unmistakable intelligence, and most significantly, the love and dedication which Helen, Derrick, and Lewis have put into this beautiful set of music." ~ freshsoundrecords.com. 

Fresh Sound New Talent, FSNT 251, 2006
Recorded 18th (#1-9,11,12) & 9th (#10) May, 2005
at Acoustic Recording, Brooklyn, New York 

Musicians:
Helen Sung - Piano, Arranger
Derrick Hodge - Bass
Lewis Nash - Drums 

Tracks:
01. H*Town {Helen Sung} (3:01)
02. Lover {Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart} (4:16)
03. Sweet & Lovely {Arnheim, Tobias, Daniels} (6:47)
04. Voyage {Kenny Barron} (7:09)
05. Willow Weep For Me {Ann Ronell} (4:54)
06. Where Or When {Rodgers, Hart} (4:38)
07. Black Narcissus {Joe Henderson} (6:03)
08. Bye Ya {Thelonious Monk} (5:49)
09. Cottontai {Duke Ellington} (3:04)
10. Carolina Shout {James P. Johnson} (3:59)
11. Alphabest Street {Prince} (3:59)
12. H*Town [Reprise] {Helen Sung} (2:08) 

Total Time: 55:21 

Credits:
Producer, Liner Notes - Helen Sung
Executive-Producer - Jordi Pujol
Recording & Mixing Engineer - Michael Brorby
Mastering Engineer - Chris Herles
CD Photography & Design - Misterarmando Design
Liner Notes - Benny Green

Lover

Helen Sung - Anthem For A New Day (2014)

Although she has released several trio albums, Helen Sung's 2014 album, Anthem for a New Day, is the pianist's first quintet album. As the 2007 Mary Lou Williams Piano Competition winner, Sung has displayed her virtuosic abilities backing such luminaries as trumpeter Clark Terry, saxophonist Wayne Shorter, and trumpeter Jon Faddis, just to name a few. Here, Sung takes center stage backed by a stellar cast of supporting players including saxophonist Seamus Blake, trumpeter Ingrid Jensen, bassist Reuben Rogers, drummer Obed Calvaire, and others. In a jazz world split between more esoteric avant-garde albums and safe, standards-heavy albums, with Anthem for a New Day Sung finds the perfect balance between intellectual, exploratory improvisation and no-nonsense, finely tailored jazz arranging. On Anthem for a New Day, Sung primarily delves into a handful of new compositions, from the buoyant "Armando's Rhumba" to the expansive "Hidden," as well as several well-chosen covers, including a gorgeous "Never Let Me Go," featuring violinist Regina Carter, and the tense yet funky "Epistrophy." These are immaculate and organically arranged pieces, all played in a swinging, straight-ahead style that allows for all musicians involved to shine. All of which is even more impressive when you consider that Sung, a classical student in college, didn't seriously began exploring jazz until after graduating from the University of Texas in 1995. After years of paying her dues as a sideman and "shedding" her chops in trio settings, with Anthem for a New Day Sung has delivered the soundtrack to the next phase of her career as a jazz leader. ~  by Matt Collar, AMG. 

Concord Records, CJA-34496-02, 2014
Recorded at Systems Two Studios, Brooklyn, New York 

Musicians:
Helen Sung - Piano, Fender Rhodes, Handclaps & Foot-Stamping (#2)
Ingrid Jensen - Trumpet
Seamus Blake - Soprano & Tenor Saxophones
Reuben Rogers - Bass
Obed Calvaire - Drums, Handclaps & Foot-Stamping (#2)
Samuel Torres - Percussion, Handclaps & Foot-Stamping (#2) 

Guests:
Regina Carter - Violin (#3,7)
Paquito D'Rivera - Clarinet (#2)
John Ellis - Bass Clarinet (#6) 

Tracks:
01. Brother Thelonious {Helen Sung} (5:37)
02. Armando's Rhumba {Chick Corea} (4:37)
03. Hidden {Helen Sung} (5:48)
04. It Don't Mean A Thing [If It Ain't Got That Swing] (Ellington, Mills} (4:10)
05. Hope Springs Eternally {Helen Sung} (5:33)
06. Anthem For A New Day {Helen Sung} (5:43)
07. Never Let Me Go {Ray Evans, Jay Livingston} (7:18)
08. Chaos Theory {Helen Sung} (5:04)
09. Epistrophy {Kenneth Clarke, Thelonious Monk} (5:30)
10. Equipoise {Stanley Cowell} (2:16) 

Total Time: 51:40 

Credits:
Producer, Liner Notes - Helen Sung
Recording Engineer - Mike Marciano
Mixing Engineer - Jeremy Loucas
Mastering Engineer - Paul Blakemore
Art Direction - Albert J. Roman
Photography - Kat Villacorta