For those unaware, when Taiwanese-born pianist Jo-Yu Chen moved to New York to study at Juilliard, she had every intention of continuing on the classical career path she’d followed as a student of both piano and oboe.

It wasn’t long, however, before she detoured into the world of jazz, continuing her studies at the New School and falling under the influence of adventurous pianists like Jason Moran, Sam Yahel and Kevin Hays.

Within a few years Chen embarked on an ambitious series of collaborations, recording dazzling jazz albums with such modern greats as drummer Tyshawn Sorey (her 2009 debut, Obsession), guitarist Kurt Rosenwinkel (Stranger, 2014) and saxophonist Mark Turner (Savage Beauty, 2019) – all on Sony Music, making Chen the first and only Taiwanese jazz artists signed to a major label.

Returning to her native Taiwan while the pandemic raged brought Chen full circle in other ways as well. She found herself reconnecting with fellow classical musicians, many of them also recently returned Juilliard alumni. But she had no intention of leaving her newfound passion for jazz behind.

The result is a deeply personal hybrid of classical and jazz traditions. Chen’s first full-length excursion into this distinctive fusion is Rendezvous: Jazz Meets Beethoven, Tchaikovsky & More.

Out May 2nd, 2025 via Sony Music, Rendezvous is just that – an intimate meeting, two individual styles converging on common ground. The album features reimagined works by five iconic composers, including pieces from three ballet masterpieces.

As she has been on every one of her releases to date, Chen – who also produced the album – is joined by the outstanding New York-based rhythm section of bassist Chris Tordini and drummer Tommy Crane.

1. Beethoven – Symphony No. 5 / Piano Sonata Moonlight
2. Tchaikovsky – The Nutcracker: Dance of the Reed Flutes
3. Beethoven – Sonata No. 8, Pathétique 2nd Movement
4. Tchaikovsky – Swan Lake
5. Prokofiev – Romeo and Juliet: Dance of the Knights
6. Mussorgsky – Pictures at an Exhibition: The Old Castle
7. Prokofiev – Piano Concerto #2
8. Ravel – Pavane Pour Une Infante Defunte

This masterfully sculpted, and wholly impassioned new recording - one that merges her jazz and classical music influences with a singular jazz take on the classical canon - opens on a simply irresistible Symphony No. 5 / Piano Sonata Moonlight and brings us the playfully flirtatious The Nutcracker: Dance of the Reed Flutes, the sheer elegance of Sonata No. 8, Pathétique 2nd Movement and then the serene gossamer of Swan Lake is brought forth.

Along next is the more strident fare of the melodious Romeo and Juliet: Dance of the Knights which is in turn itself backed by the veritably glistening Pictures at an Exhibition: The Old Castle, the set rounding out on the gently jaunty, yet rhythmically infectious Piano Concerto #2, coming to a close on the languishing beauty of the peaceful Pavane Pour Une Infante Defunte.

www.joyuchen.com