Jinjoo Yoo + Chris Hodgkins + Wayne Wilkinson + Alison Rayner Tour

Event Has Passed

Last Show: Friday 24 th May 2019

PizzaExpress Live (Birmingham)

An outstanding Anglo/American quartet led by award winning trumpet player Chris Hodgkins a man of many talents - musician, bandleader, administrator, author, broadcaster and much more. For this tour he has recruited  South Korean pianist from New York, Jinjoo Yoo, “one of the most exciting pianists on the scene in New York”, plus Wayne Wilkinson a headline guitarist, “one of the best, most underrated jazz guitarists in the USA”. Alison Rayner is featured on bass - winner of theParliamentary Jazz Award 2018 for Best Ensemble. The music comprises a mixture of standards and four originals specially written for this tour. These compositions celebrate famous musicians that the band members have played with in the past. Don't miss the chance to see this special show.

“This live chamber jazz album exhibits a wonderful chemistry between the trio of trumpeter Chris Hodgkins and guitarist Wayne Wilkinson. Captivating.”

The Musician

Jinjoo Yoo 

Jazz Pianist/Composer/Arranger Jinjoo Yoo is a dynamic performer with a unique voice. Hailing from Seoul, South Korea, Jinjoo currently resides in New York and collaborates with different projects and leads her own group as well. As a leader and a solo performer, she has toured internationally, including performances in the United States, Italy, Greece, Azerbaijan, and South Korea. In 2017, she was selected as one of the finalists for the Baku Jazz Competition.

Enjoying singing and playing instruments from her youth, Jazz captured her attention soon after starting University in South Korea. It didn't take long for her to fall in love with Mary Lou Williams, Wynton Kelly, Teddy Wilson, Bud Powell, Sonny Clark, Art Tatum, Jimmy Rowles, Billie Holiday and Carmen McRae. Since then, she has immersed herself in the music by listening to jazz legends' albums, studying music harmony and theory by herself. Although she was studying Sociology and Economics in her undergraduate years, she found herself more interested in jazz rather than her major. After her graduation, she decided to focus on jazz more deeply in New York. In 2017, Jinjoo earned her Master's degree in Jazz Performance from Queens College.

Jinjoo stylistically encompasses the range from Jazz Classic and the American songbook to original compositions that swing. Jinjoo thinks that her music should be able to describe this world, either beautiful or ugly, and the way she feels while observing it. Her original tunes bring stories and emotions of curiosity, joyfulness, tragedy, gratitude, melancholy, and pain.

Band Lineup

Chris Hodgkins (trumpet)

Jinjoo Yoo (piano)

Wayne Wilkinson (guitar)

Alison Rayner (bass)