Yuhan Su

Emotional and intellectual, vibraphonist Yuhan Su's sophisticated music combines both traditional and modern jazz idioms, finding inspiration not only in music but also in literature, painting, and other forms of artistic expression. Hailing from Taiwan, Su studied at the Taipei National University of Arts, then moved to the U.S. where she studied at Berklee before arriving in New York City in 2012. Her first two albums, Flying Alone (2012) and A Room of One's Own (2015), were released on Greg Osby's Inner Circle label to positive reviews. Su then signed with Sunnyside, which released her acclaimed third record, City Animals, in 2018. She also became a member of Brian Krock's Big Heart Machine ensemble and performed with musicians like Miho Hazama, Kenji Herbert, and Jason Yeager. In 2023, Su released her ambitious fourth album, Liberated Gesture. Yuhan Su was born in Gongguan, Miaoli in Taiwan, and she started playing the piano at the age of seven, adding percussion at ten. She moved to Taipei when she was 18, studying at the Taipei National University of Arts with a major in percussion, graduating in 2008 with a master's degree. During this time, she performed with the Ju Percussion Group II for three years and appeared live with the TNUA percussion ensemble in Seoul, Korea in 2005. She also won an award for a multimedia collaboration. In 2008, she moved to Boston to attend the Berklee College of Music, where she studied under vibraphonists Dave Samuels and Ed Saindon. After graduating in 2011, she moved to New York City the next year, starting to work on her debut album Flying Alone. Collecting $4,000.00 in crowdfunding support, the record was ultimately released by the Inner Circle label and garnered a lot of attention, receiving nominations for Best Instrumental Album and Best Instrumental Composition (for the title track) at Taiwan's Golden Melody Awards. Her second album, A Room of One's Own, followed in 2015. Su's third record, 2018's City Animals, which was inspired by her time in New York, won Best Album and Best Jazz Album at the Taiwanese Golden Indie Music Awards. Apart from pursuing her own projects, Su also became involved with Brian Krock's big band ensemble Big Heart Machine, appearing on their self-titled album in 2018. She guested on albums by Kenji Herbert and Vivienne Aerts, recorded with Jason Yeager's group, and played with musicians like Miho Hazama, Kyle Saulnier, and Quinsin Nachoff. 2023 saw the release of Su's fourth album, Liberated Gesture, an ambitious collection of pieces inspired by artists like Hans Hartung and Joan Didion.
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