Meet the Empress: A Korean Saxophonist's New York Ensemble

START WITH A NAME · Pureum Jin

Finding Korean music in the United States does not always begin with a stadium tour. Sometimes it begins with a musician's name in an album booklet. Saxophonist Pureum Jin, whose official biography identifies her as South Korea-born and New York-based, leads the Empress. Its debut, Square One, was released in March 2025.

The record offers an approachable reason to read credits before pressing play. They show a group assembled around four saxophonists, backed by piano, bass and drums. For a newcomer, that is a more concrete introduction than a claim that an entire national scene has a single sound.

This is a guide to the recording and the people credited on it, not a report from a concert or a review based on SEOULIAN attending a show. The release date is historical; publication of this article does not make the album a new September release.

SEVEN PLAYERS · More than the front row

WDCB's March 17, 2025 coverage identifies Jin on soprano and alto, Erena Terakubo on alto, Chelsea Baratz on tenor and Lauren Sevian on baritone saxophone. The official album page completes the ensemble: Steve Ash on piano, Joey Ranieri on bass and Pete Van Nostrand on drums.

That distinction matters when a promotional description calls the project a saxophone quartet. Four describes the saxophone grouping, not every player on this record. Keeping the rhythm section in view gives a newcomer more names to follow and avoids turning the collaborators into anonymous accompaniment.

You need not identify every instrument immediately. Keep the names nearby, listen at your own pace and return to the credits when something catches your attention. They are there to expand the experience, not test whether you deserve to enjoy it.

BEHIND THE RECORD · Writing is another role

The release credits name Jin as producer. Michael Lutzeier arranged the tracks except Everything Happens to Me, arranged by Jin. Recording took place at Van Gelder Recording Studio in New Jersey on April 11–12, 2024; the album was released on March 21, 2025.

Recording and release are separate events. So are arranging, playing and producing. An arranger shapes how material is organized for the ensemble; the performer credit tells you who plays. Reading those roles separately makes the record a map of working relationships rather than a list of recognizable faces.

YOUR NEXT STEP · Check the edition

Use the artist-linked Bandcamp page for the official player, credits and purchase options. Its digital program lists eleven tracks, while the physical vinyl description lists seven. If you want a particular piece on a record, check that edition's track list instead of assuming every format is identical.

Our suggestion is to follow one credited musician after exploring this album. Look for another official recording or an independently confirmed local date, checking the actual announced lineup. A 2025 album credit is not a guarantee of who will appear at a future show. One careful discovery can become several, without needing to master a whole genre in an afternoon.