Jo-Yu Chen is a Taiwanese jazz pianist and composer.
Jo-Yu Chen | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | Taiwan |
| Genres | Jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, composer |
| Instrument | Piano |
| Labels | Sony Music |
| Website | www |
Life and career
editChen was born in Taiwan and initially studied classical music.[1] She particularly listened to Romantic composers and moved aged 16 to New York's Juilliard School, mainly to study oboe.[2] She became exposed to other kinds of music there, and became more interested in jazz.[1][2] She later obtained a PhD in music education from Teachers College, Columbia University.[2] She then continued her studies at The New School and took jazz piano lessons from Sam Yahel.[2]
Chen's first album, Obsession, was released in 2009.[2] This was followed three years later by another trio album, Incomplete Soul.[3] In 2014, Chen, as "the first Taiwanese jazz artist signed to a major label", released Stranger, an album consisting largely of her original compositions.[1]
Discography
editAn asterisk (*) indicates that the year is that of release.
As leader/co-leader
edit| Year recorded | Title | Label | Personnel/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009,2011* | Obsession | Sony Music Taiwan | Trio, with Chris Tordini (bass), Tommy Crane (drums), one track with Tyshawn Sorey (drums) |
| 2012* | Incomplete Soul | Sony Music | Most tracks trio, with Chris Tordini (bass), Tommy Crane (drums); one track quartet, with Andy Lin (erhu) added |
| 2014* | Stranger | Okeh, Sony Music | Most tracks trio, with Chris Tordini (bass), Tommy Crane (drums); some tracks quartet, with Kurt Rosenwinkel (guitar) added |
| 2019* | Savage Beauty | Sony Music | Most tracks trio, with Chris Tordini (bass), Tommy Crane (drums); some tracks quartet, with Mark Turner (sax) added |
12/22/2023* |Walking Through Fear |Single |Sony Music |with Richard Lin (1st Violin), Hsuan-Hao Hsu (2nd Violin), Grace Huang (Viola), Tsao-Lun Lu (Cello) added
02/16/2024* |Schubert & Mozart: Round Midnight |EP |Sony Music with Chris Tordini (bass) and Tommy Crane (drums) added
References
edit- ^ a b c McClenaghan, Dan (20 May 2014) "Jo-Yu Chen: Stranger (2014)" Archived 2015-05-05 at the Wayback Machine. AllAboutJazz.
- ^ a b c d e Ross, Jon (March 2010) "Pianist Chen's Jazz Focus Sparks Musical Transformation". DownBeat. p. 49.
- ^ McClenaghan, Dan (2 February 2012) "Jo-Yu Chen Trio: Incomplete Soul (2012)". AllAboutJazz.