Jo-Yu Chen is a Taiwanese

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a major ...

pianist and composer.

Life and career

Chen was born in Taiwan and initially studied classical music.McClenaghan, Dan (20 May 2014
"Jo-Yu Chen: Stranger (2014)"
. AllAboutJazz. She particularly listened to

Romantic composers The Romantic era of Western Classical music spanned the 19th century to the early 20th century, encompassing a variety of musical styles and techniques. Part of the broader Romanticism movement of Europe, Ludwig van Beethoven and Franz Schubert ...

and moved aged 16 to New York's

Juilliard School The Juilliard School ( ) is a private performing arts conservatory in New York City. Established in 1905, the school trains about 850 undergraduate and graduate students in dance, drama, and music. It is widely regarded as one of the most el ...

, mainly to study oboe.Ross, Jon (March 2010) "Pianist Chen's Jazz Focus Sparks Musical Transformation". ''DownBeat''. p. 49. She became exposed to other kinds of music there, and became more interested in jazz. She later obtained a PhD in music education from

Teachers College, Columbia University Teachers College, Columbia University (TC), is the graduate school of education, health, and psychology of Columbia University, a private research university in New York City. Founded in 1887, it has served as one of the official faculties and ...

. She then continued her studies at

The New School The New School is a private research university in New York City. It was founded in 1919 as The New School for Social Research with an original mission dedicated to academic freedom and intellectual inquiry and a home for progressive thinkers. ...

and took jazz piano lessons from Sam Yahel. Chen's first album, ''Obsession'', was released in 2009. This was followed three years later by another trio album, ''Incomplete Soul''.McClenaghan, Dan (2 February 2012
"Jo-Yu Chen Trio: Incomplete Soul (2012)"
AllAboutJazz. In 2014, Chen, as "the first Taiwanese jazz artist signed to a major label", released ''Stranger'', an album consisting largely of her original compositions.

Discography

An asterisk (*) indicates that the year is that of release.

As leader/co-leader

12/22/2023* , ''Walking Through Fear'' , ''Single'' ,

Sony Music Sony Music Entertainment (SME), also known as simply Sony Music, is an American multinational music company. Being owned by the parent conglomerate Sony Group Corporation, it is part of the Sony Music Group, which is owned by Sony Entertainment ...

, with

Richard Lin Richard Lin () (born 6 July 1991 at United States) is a Taiwanese American violinist. He won competitions in Poland, United States, Singapore, Japan, and Taiwan. In 2013 he won the first prize in the Sendai International Music Competition. In 20 ...

(1st Violin), Hsuan-Hao Hsu (2nd Violin), Grace Huang (Viola), Tsao-Lun Lu (Cello) added 02/16/2024* , ''Schubert & Mozart: Round Midnight'' , ''EP'' ,

with Chris Tordini (bass) and Tommy Crane (drums) added

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chen, Jo-Yu Jazz pianists Living people Year of birth missing (living people) Okeh Records artists Taiwanese women pianists Teachers College, Columbia University alumni 21st-century pianists Juilliard School