Hi, my name is Christina! I am a senior in high school and an avid music enthusiast. I really enjoy 20th century classical music, jazz piano, and prog rock. My musical journey took root in childhood with classical music — I started piano lessons in elementary school and quickly became hooked. As I spent more time at the piano, I realized that truly understanding the intentions of the composers added a new layer to my performance. Without knowing the context and history behind each work, I felt I wasn’t truly appreciating the composer’s efforts, and my playing felt incomplete and almost inauthentic.

My affinity for musical Impressionism eventually led me to discover the relevance of jazz within the classical world. I learned that composers like Ravel and Shostakovich were influenced by jazz, sparking my own interest in the genre. I soon found that “jazz” isn’t just one style — it’s an umbrella term that encompasses hundreds of subgenres, though even the idea of “subgenres” can feel limiting when so many styles bleed into one another.

My love for jazz began with Bill Evans (pretty much all his albums, but especially Explorations and You Must Believe in Spring), Erroll Garner (Concert by the Sea), and Ahmad Jamal (At the Pershing: But Not for Me, The Awakening). At the moment, I really enjoy Fred Hersch, Brad Mehldau, Aaron Parks, Jason Moran, Keith Jarrett, Sullivan Fortner, Gerald Clayton, Tigran Hamasyan, Shai Maestro, and Enrico Pieranunzi (can you tell that I’m a pianist yet?). Still, I enjoy the playing of countless other pianists and am always hungry to discover more.

All in all, I think my attraction to jazz stems from its exciting spontaneity (improvisation), rich blend of sounds and influences, and unique evolution. The way I see it, jazz offers the excitement of improvisation and the freedom for personal expression, a deep foundation built on incredible musicians and a remarkable history, and a source of passion and inspiration in my life. Truly, nothing brings me more joy.

Jazzophile is a hub for everything jazz: discussion, articles, performance, and discovery. It celebrates jazz in all its forms, with a special focus on East Asian jazz. I’ve always been fascinated by how jazz transforms across cultures, and Yusef Lateef’s Eastern Sounds — being one of my first introductions to the genre — sparked my interest in jazz with East Asian influences.

Through Jazzophile, I want to promote lesser-known musicians who deserve a space where their work can be explored, appreciated, and made more accessible. I also hope to make jazz more inclusive for people who love music but don’t necessarily see themselves as “jazz musicians.” Through performances at nursing homes, interviews with artists and scholars, written articles, and curated playlists, I aim to spread awareness and celebrate diversity in jazz. My goal is to spotlight overlooked artists, explore big questions and hot topics in jazz, and show how jazz can be both accessible and rich. For me, Jazzophile isn’t just about promoting music. It’s about challenging elitism in the jazz world and creating new ways to listen, learn, and connect through sound.