Jenny Xu (b. 1996) is a Canadian pianist, educator and composer based primarily in NYC. She holds a Royal Conservatory of Music ARCT Diploma for Classical Piano, a Bachelor's Degree in Performance (summa cum laude) from Berklee College of Music (2014-2016) and a Master’s Degree in Jazz Piano Performance (summa cum laude) from Manhattan School of Music (2017-2019). Xu is best known as for her work in FRIENDSHIP, her brain-child trio, which boasts a critically acclaimed tour and debut release: ‘Project Sock Retrieval’ (October 2020).
in 2018, Jenny self-released her first two albums as leader: ‘Standards Vol. I’ and ‘Live at the Silk Purse’. Both of which feature Canadian heavyweights André Lachance (bass) and Bernie Arai (drums) as sidemen. In addition to the aforementioned, 4-time Juno Award winner Campbell Ryga (sax) makes a guest appearance on one of the tracks in ‘Standards Vol. I’. ...
read more
Jenny Xu (b. 1996) is a Canadian pianist, educator and composer based primarily in NYC. She holds a Royal Conservatory of Music ARCT Diploma for Classical Piano, a Bachelor's Degree in Performance (summa cum laude) from Berklee College of Music (2014-2016) and a Master’s Degree in Jazz Piano Performance (summa cum laude) from Manhattan School of Music (2017-2019). Xu is best known as for her work in FRIENDSHIP, her brain-child trio, which boasts a critically acclaimed tour and debut release: ‘Project Sock Retrieval’ (October 2020).
in 2018, Jenny self-released her first two albums as leader: ‘Standards Vol. I’ and ‘Live at the Silk Purse’. Both of which feature Canadian heavyweights André Lachance (bass) and Bernie Arai (drums) as sidemen. In addition to the aforementioned, 4-time Juno Award winner Campbell Ryga (sax) makes a guest appearance on one of the tracks in ‘Standards Vol. I’.
At MSM, Jenny was a member of Paquito D’Rivera’s irakere ensemble. She also held the piano chair in the institution’s Latin Grammy-nominated Afro-Cuban Jazz Ensemble both years of her graduate degree. Other awards and accolades Jenny has received include:
MSM outreach award (2019)
Stingray Radio ‘Rising Star’ Award (2018)
Downbeat Student Award: Best Latin Jazz Ensemble (2018)
$30,000/year scholarship to MSM (2017)
Berklee College Jazz Performance Award (2016)
Fraser Macpherson Post-Secondary Scholarship (2015)
Full-scholarship to Humber college (2014)
Full-scholarship to Berklee college (2014)
Yamaha ‘Kando’ Award (2014)
Dal Richards Scholarship (2014)
Envision Jazz Festival’s Most Outstanding Musician, Most Outstanding Pianist, Most Outstanding Vocalist, Best Combo, Best Rhythm Section Awards (2014)
Jenny has experience performing at over a dozen music festivals, as well as several iconic venues such as dizzy’s club coca cola (Nyc), Birdland (NYC) and Pyatt Hall (Vancouver). she has had the immense privilege of having worked with Buster Williams, Eddie Gomez, Kendrick Scott, Dave Liebman, Ingrid Jensen, The New York Voices, Danilo Perez, Joe Lovano, Kenny Werner, Arturo O’Farrill, Christian Scott, Obed Calvaire, Jim McNeely and Stefon Harris. On piano, she has played with the likes of Ambrose Akinmusire, Joe Sanders, Kendrick Scott, Peter Bernstein, Arturo O’Farrill, Harold Mabern, Cándido Camero and George Garzone. In the summer of 2018, she opened for Herbie Hancock at the TD Ottawa International Jazz Festival as a part of the TD Ottawa Jazz Youth Summit.
Upon finishing her graduate degree, Jenny was one of the youngest faculty members ever hired to teach at Manhattan School of Music’s prestigious summer program. She presently serves on the faculty of the Larchmont Academy of Music (Larchmont, NY), Varta Academy of Musical Arts (Rego Park, NY) and the Smith School of Music (Manhattan).
show less
