WoongSan


WoongSan is an award-winning South Korean musician, actress and TV show host. She has been a leading figure in the jazz music scene in Korea and Japan for over a decade, having performed live over 500 times since her 1998 Japanese debut. She is the first Korean-born musician to perform at New York City's historic Blue Note Jazz Club and has collaborated with many other well-known jazz musicians including Benny Green, Lonnie Plaxico, Rodney Green, Conrad Herwig and Suzuki Hisatsugu. She is also well known for training Ali, a popular K-pop singer.

Biography

When she was 18, WoongSan spent a year and a half at a Buddhist temple in the Korean countryside. During her training she had a powerful realization: her calling in life was music. Initially she played in a college rock band, but after a friend played her a Billie Holiday record, she began to dedicate herself to jazz. She spent several years performing as a solo artist then released her first album accompanied by a jazz ensemble in 1996. By the end of 1998 she was a recognizable figure in both Korea and Japan, and since then, she has released six albums, garnered numerous awards and critical acclaim, and continues to tour prolifically. She has also written many songs for films.
Last year, she proved her career was an ongoing path as a music performer on the stage collaborated with Lee Ritenour.

Style

WoongSan's style is a distinctive blend of jazz, blues, Latin and funk style. Her mid-low voice does not span as much tonal ground as other famous singers, but what she lacks in range she more than makes up for in creativity and malleability. As an independent lyricist, Woong San has penned powerful ballads, cozy love numbers and everything in between. Buddhism has played a prominent role in her life, and it shines through in her songwriting: she often explores the themes of freedom, mindfulness and the beauty of change in her songs. Her work has been described as "soulful, fearless, sultry."

Albums

YearTitleDetailsTrack listing
2003. 12.12.Love Letters1st album released both in Korea and Japan
2005. 11. 7.The Blues2nd album released in Korea
2007. 7. 24.Yesterday3rd album released in Korea
2008. 9. 16.Fall in Love4th album released both in Korea and Japan
2009. 10. 6.Miss Mister1st special gift album for fans
2010. 3. 17.Close Your Eyes5th album released both in Korea and Japan
2011. 10. 4.Once I Loved2nd special gift album
2011. 10. 4.Tomorrow6th album released in Korea and Japan
2013. 10. 2.I Love You7th album released in Korea and Japan
2014. 12.13.THE BEST WOONG SANTHE BEST album released in Korea
2015. 8. 12.Temptation8th album released in Korea and Japan
2016. 11. 1.JAZZ IS MY LIFEMINI ALBUM VOL.1 released in Korea
2018. 9. 5.I'm Alright9th album released in Korea and Japan
2020. 11. 8.가제: Nothing Compares To You
10th album을 기다리며ㆍㆍㆍㆍㆍ
뜨거운 화살처럼
네게로 가리
P.S. 웅산 님의 노래를 좋아하고 웅산 님에게 관심을 갖고 자료수정요청을 해주신 큰산 객 님에게도 감사드립니다.

Awards

  1. 1993 MBC Korean Popular Music Festival's "Best Singer' award
  2. 2001 MM Jazz's, "best Artist" award
  3. 2003 MM Jazz's "Best Musician" award
  4. 2008 Korean Popular Music Awards' "Best Jazz & Crossover Album" award
  5. 2008 Reader Poll magazine's "best Vocalist" award
  6. 2010 Swing Journal's "Gold Disc" award for her album
  7. 2011 Jazz Criticism's "Jazz Disc Grand Prize" award

    Soundtracks

  8. "Elegy" for Korean TV show, Kyungsung Scandal
  9. "I Think I Loved You" for Korean TV show, Mother, Sister
  10. Participated in OST for Korean TV show, Lema Lee, the Sun
  11. "Destiny" for Korean TV show, Ill Ji Mae
  12. "In the Mood" for Korean film, Who Slept With Her?
  13. "Pierro's Mask" for Korean film, The Shadow Murder
  14. "Outrageous Love" on soundtrack for Korean TV show, Chuno