JinJoo Yoo Trio

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. 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. 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 "" (Gut String Records), where she showcased her musical perspective. The album featured Neal Miner on bass and Jimmy Wormworth on drums. 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. Photography Hoyeon Choi Daniel Duke is a jazz bassist and composer who performs regularly in New York City and the surrounding area. He has played the bass full-time since 2012, and appeared at Smalls, Mezzrow, Birdland, Smoke, Dizzy’s, Minton’s, and other major jazz venues, including The Dakota in Minneapolis, City Winery in Chicago and Chris’s in Philadelphia. He has worked with some of the most renowned jazz bandleaders locally and internationally, including Sacha Perry, Chris Byars, Ray Gallon, Vincent Herring, Nicole Glover, Nic Cacioppo, and Michael Kanan. He has accompanied the acclaimed vocalist Jane Monheit, and many other New York singers. Daniel has performed alongside legendary drummer Louis Hayes, and worked in the rhythm section with Bill Goodwin, George Cables, Greg Ruggiero, Pasquale Grasso, Phil Stewart, Joe Strasser, Gerry Gibbs, Dave Kikoski, and many others. Born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, he grew up in St. Paul, Minnesota and currently resides in the Bronx. He attended William Paterson University in New Jersey. A native of Austin, Texas, drummer Keith Balla began playing at the age of 13, inspired by his older brother--also a musician. Soon after, Balla met jazz pianist Marc Devine who encouraged the young drummer, provided him with a wealth of invaluable playing experience, and exposed him to the drummers which continue to be a source of inspiration: Philly Joe Jones, Max Roach, Papa Jo Jones, Kenny Clarke, Art Blakey, Roy Haynes, Sid Catlett, Billy Higgins, and many more. After moving to New York at 17, Balla sought the tutelage of the great drummer/educators Kenny Washington and John Riley, and found equal inspiration in the performances of Leroy Williams, Fukushi Tainaka, Jimmy Wormworth, Jackie Williams, Clifford Barbaro, and the archival recordings of the late Jimmy Lovelace. He quickly found himself immersed in the fertile jazz community of Smalls Jazz Club, acquainting himself with, amongst others: Ari Roland, Sacha Perry, Chris Byars, Zaid Nasser, Tardo Hammer, Grant Stewart, Charles Davis, John Mosca, Luigi and Pasquale Grasso, Stefano Doglioni, William Ash, Vahagn Hayrapetian, Yaala Ballin, Josh Benko, Dwayne Clemons, Alex Hoffman, and William and Peter Anderson. In addition to performing at many of New York's finest jazz venues such as Smoke, Zinc Bar, Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola, and Birdland, Balla has travelled worldwide as a member of the Ari Roland Quartet. Since 2008, working under the auspices of the U.S. Department of State, the group has performed in over 50 countries throughout Africa, Europe, East and Central Asia, and the Middle East. Balla has also conducted a number of intensive drum workshops in Cyprus, where the Ari Roland/Chris Byars group administered a bi-communal jazz educational program for over 5 years, from 2008-2013. Contact: keith_balla@yahoo.com