Musician spotlight

This week we feature pianist and composer Nery Kim! Nery currently resides in Augusta, GA and can be heard playing with a variety of people from Wycliffe Gordon to Rob Foster as well as with the USC Jazz Faculty. Nery hails from South Korea and has studied at Berkley in Boston and CalArts in Los Angeles. She is an amazing piano player and currently on faculty with the UofSC Jazz department. We asked Nery some questions....

-When did you start playing?

-I began playing piano at age 6

-What was some of the first music you loved?

-I grew up loving gospel music, and when I first heard jazz in high school, I fell in love instantly.

-If you could pick a different instrument what would it be and why?

-I’d choose to sing—it feels like the most natural and expressive instrument.

-What are you listening to these days?

- I usually listen to whatever I’m working on at the moment. But when I just want to unwind, I ask Alexa to play some jazz.

-Where is one of the coolest places you've played?

-The Java Jazz Festival in Indonesia. I was really touched seeing so many young people, including girls wearing hijabs, running to catch our show—it was such an inspiring moment.

-Who is a musician you think others should know about?

-Mulgrew Miller—a brilliant jazz pianist with incredible depth and soul.

-What's keeping you busy these days (musically and non)?

-Between school, playing gigs, and teaching lessons, things have been pretty full. I’m also getting ready for my family’s visit from South Korea in December—I can’t wait to see them.