Linda May Han Oh: In Search of Strange Heavens
The bassist behind the chordless trio album ‘Strange ‘Heavens reflects on studying Dave Holland's transcriptions, competing as a Thelonious Monk semifinalist, and learning to be comfortable with her own sound rather than imitating her heroes.
Today we’re putting The Tonearm’s needle on bassist and composer Linda May Han Oh.
Linda’s a Grammy winner who’s recorded with Pat Metheny, Kenny Barron, and Joe Lovano. She was even the model for the bassist character in Pixar’s ‘Soul.’ But it’s her own work that brings us together.
Her latest album, Strange Heaven, explores why we choose familiar hells over strange heavens—why we stick with what we know even when change might save us. It’s a question that cuts through everything from personal relationships to political choices. Linda approaches her albums like journals, each one capturing where she is as an artist and a person. Since becoming a mother, she says her music has become more direct, more distilled—less about ego and more about emotional truth.
She’s here to discuss creative honesty, her work promoting women composers in jazz through the New Standards project, and why making music with emotional directness matters more than ever.
(The musical excerpts heard in the interview are from Linda May Han Oh’s album Strange Heaven)
Dig Deeper
• Visit Linda May Han Oh at lindamayhanoh.com and follow her on Instagram, Facebook, and Bandcamp
• Purchase Linda May Han Oh’s Strange Heavens from Biophilia Recordings, Bandcamp, or Qobuz and listen on your streaming platform of choice
• Linda May Han Oh: Strange Heavens - Album Review on JazzTrail
• NPR Fresh Air: Jazz Bassist Linda May Han Oh on ‘Strange Heavens’
• Linda May Han Oh: Tiny Desk Concert
Previous Albums Referenced:
• Entry (2009) - Linda’s debut album with Ambrose Akinmusire and Obed Calvaire
• The Glass Hours (2023)
• Walk Against Wind (2017)
• Aventurine (2019)
Collaborators:
• Ambrose Akinmusire, trumpet - Featured on Strange Heavens and Entry
• Tyshawn Sorey, drums - Featured on Strange Heavens, MacArthur Fellow and Pulitzer Prize winner
• Fabian Almazan, piano - Linda’s husband and frequent collaborator
• Pat Metheny - Guitarist Linda has toured and recorded with
• Vijay Iyer - Pianist/composer Linda performs with in trio alongside Tyshawn Sorey
Musical Influences:
• Charles Mingus - Mingus Ah Um (1959) was one of Linda’s first jazz albums
• Dave Holland - Linda’s thesis focused on his use of North Indian classical music rhythms
• Ron Carter - Legendary bassist who encouraged Linda at the Thelonious Monk competition
• Paul Chambers - Influential jazz bassist
• Sam Jones - Jazz bassist Linda studied
Educational Institutions:
• Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts - Where Linda studied upright bass (2002)
• Manhattan School of Music - Linda’s master’s degree (2008)
• Berklee College of Music - Where Linda is Associate Professor
• Churchlands Senior High School - Linda’s high school in Perth
Competitions and Awards:
• Thelonious Monk International Jazz Bass Competition (2009) - Linda was a semifinalist
• Jazz Journalists Association Bassist of the Year (2018-2021, 2023-2025)
• 2022 Deutscher Jazz Preis
• Herb Alpert Award (2023)
• Grammy Award winner (2023) - New Standards Vol. 1 with Terri Lyne Carrington
Related Artists Mentioned:
• Michael Mayo, vocalist - Discussed social media with Linda
• Terri Lyne Carrington - Drummer/composer Linda has worked with
• Kenny Barron - Pianist
• Joe Lovano - Saxophonist
• Dave Douglas - Trumpeter/composer
Compositions Discussed:
• “Portal” - About stress from social media
• “Strange Heavens” - Title track exploring the unknown
• “Avalanche” - Composed 2016-2017, about feeling trapped and seeking release
• “Alchemy” - About transformation
• “Living Proof” - Inspired by Linda’s mother
• “Hatchling” - Closing track on The Glass Hours
