Jinjoo Yoo
Jazz Pianist in NYC

Having enjoyed singing and playing instruments since her youth, Jinjoo's interest in jazz was piqued soon after she began university in South Korea. It didn’t take long for her to fall in love with the music of Mary Lou Williams, Teddy Wilson, Bud Powell, Sonny Clark, Art Tatum, Jimmy Rowles, Billie Holiday, and others. From then on, she immersed herself in the genre, absorbing the albums of jazz greats.

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Despite studying Sociology during her undergraduate years, Jinjoo found herself increasingly drawn to jazz rather than her major. In 2014, she made the decision to move to New York City to deepen her focus on jazz.

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Jinjoo believes that her music should capture the essence of the world around her, whether beautiful or stark, reflecting her observations and emotions. Her original compositions explore themes of curiosity, joy, tragedy, and melancholy. In 2018, she debuted as a leader with "<I’m Curious>" (Gut String Records), where she showcased her musical perspective. The album featured Neal Miner on bass and Jimmy Wormworth on drums.

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Jinjoo is a familiar presence in the New York City jazz scene, often performing both as a leader and a sidewoman. She has also toured internationally, with performances in the US, UK, Italy, Greece, Spain, Poland, Hungary, and South Korea.