Jordan VanHemert

Jordan VanHemert is a Korean American saxophonist, composer, and bandleader working in the contemporary post-bop tradition. An active international touring artist, he has performed throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia — including frequent appearances in South Korea — at venues such as Dazzle in Denver, Cliff Bell’s in Detroit, and The Blue Llama in Ann Arbor. His recent recordings and touring have brought him into collaboration with leading figures in modern jazz including Terell Stafford, Michael Dease, Helen Sung, Rodney Whitaker, and Lewis Nash.

VanHemert’s music has earned sustained international recognition. Japan’s The Walkers praised a recent album as “the musical expression of what it means to be alive,” while MMJazz Korea described him as “another rising star at a time when the number of Korean jazz musicians is rising.” In the United States, JazzTimes editor-in-chief David R. Adler has highlighted his “authoritative sound” and “penetrating musical intelligence,” and longtime collaborator Rodney Whitaker calls him “a powerful voice on saxophone… telling his story through the lens of his Korean cultural traditions.”