Jacob Chung
Biography Jacob Chung
Jacob Chung
moved to New York City in 2022 was necessitated by the need to be as close as possible to the sources of his inspiration. Having charmed audiences in his hometown Toronto with a dynamic commitment to swing, he enrolled at Manhattan School ofMusic to study with Vincent Herring, whose advocacy for Jacob’s talent led to the recording of Jacob’s sophomore album The Sage for the Cellar Music Group label, featuring both Herring and drummer Joe Farnsworth, due for release in October 2024. Under the guidance of Grant Stewart at the Tribeca Jazz Institute, Jacob connected with the likes of Chris Byars, Eric Alexander, Ari Roland, and Ken Peplowski, whose mentorship launched a period of rapid development that has since found Jacob maintaining an active performance schedule in NYC clubs. Jacob has performed alongside Peter Washington, the Mingus Big Band, Pasquale Grasso, Ari Roland, Joe Farnsworth, and is a regular member of Erena Terakubo’s Sextet. In the summer of 2023, Jacob performed twice at the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts in Washington D.C., and at the Burlington Jazz Festival (VT) as a member of the prestigious Betty Carter Jazz Ahead program. Jacob was also awarded “Outstanding Soloist” in Downbeat Magazine’s 2024 Student Music edition.
The Jacob Chung Quintet’s 2022 debut album Epistle was received with critical acclaim for its embodiment of the spirit of jazz; “A bunch of swingers that know the history without the baggage, they zip the ears open with a delightful sound that uplifts while it makes you smile” (Chris Spector, Midwest Record). Jacob’s aesthetic direction has drawn comparison to that of the 1990s neo-bop renaissance. Will Chernoff (Rhythm Changes) writes that “Jacob and the band are part of a full-on second generation of Young Lions,” a sentiment echoed by Jamie Lee Rake (Shepherd Express): “What they are about is connecting the dots between the sophisticated heat of jazz royalty such as Duke Ellington and Count Basie with a post-bop drive.” The Jacob Chung Quintet has played at several major Toronto venues and festivals including The Rex Hotel, The Jazz Bistro, TD Toronto Jazz Festival, TD Markham Jazz Festival, and the Toronto International Film Festival.
