Biography

Long

Before jazz saxophonist Jacob Chung (b.2000) left his home in Toronto for New York City in 2022, Jacob and his band burst onto the Toronto jazz scene with slots at the Toronto Jazz Festival and the Toronto International Film Festival, and residencies at major venues including The Rex Hotel Jazz and Blues Bar and The Jazz Bistro. Jacob’s debut recording Epistle (2022, Three Pines Records), which featured a four-part suite inspired by Protestant soteriology, captured the chemistry of the band’s sound:

Jacob and the band are part of a full-on second generation of Young Lions. Like that infamous neo-bop generation, now 30+ years removed from being young and on the vanguard, the twentysomethings you hear on Epistle are after something timeless and joyful. I can feel it.

- Will Chernoff, Rhythm Changes (2022)

Upon arriving in NYC, Jacob began his studies at Manhattan School of Music, during which he won “Outstanding Soloist” in Downbeat Magazine’s 2024 Student Music edition. At MSM he connected with saxophonist Vincent Herring, whose advocacy for Jacob’s potential led to a record deal with the Canadian label Cellar Music Group for his sophomore release, The Sage (2024), which featured both Herring and drummer Joe Farnsworth alongside Jacob’s esteemed NYC peers, pianist Tyler Henderson and bassist Caleb Tobocman. The Sage was named was named one of the best Canadian jazz albums of 2024 by journalist Peter Hum (Ottawa Citizen, 2024). In 2025, Jacob released a follow-up album Live at Frankies Jazz Club (Cellar Music Group), which was recorded live in Vancouver, Canada with the Tyler Henderson Trio at the tail end of a cross-country promotional tour for The Sage.

After Jacob participated in the prestigious Betty Carter Jazz Ahead program led by Jason Moran at the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., he became frustrated with “modern jazz” and grew increasingly drawn to NYC’s thriving underground bebop scene. Jacob sought the guidance of Grant Stewart at the Tribeca Jazz Institute, where he connected with Chris Byars, Ari Roland, and Ken Peplowski, all whose mentorship has helped launch Jacob into maintaining an active performance schedule at Smalls Jazz Club, Ornithology Jazz Club, Dizzy’s Club at Jazz at Lincoln Center, and other NYC clubs. 

Jacob plays as a sideman in the Chris Byars Octet, the Richard Cortez band, the Marty Scott Quintet, Mason Millard’s Eli’s All-Stars, and has played stints with the Erena Terakubo Sextet, James Sarno’s Craftsman Band, and Rodney Green’s Jackson Miller Band. He has also shared the bandstand with Joe Magnarelli, the John Pizzarelli Big Band, Peter Washington, the Mingus Big Band, and Pasquale Grasso. Jacob has appeared on the acclaimed livestream series, “Emmet’s Place,” alongside Emmet Cohen, Phil Norris, Bryan Carter, and special guest Kurt Elling. Jacob returned to perform at the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts in 2024 with Chuck Redd’s annual Christmas Eve Jazz Jam.

Jacob now tours internationally as both bandleader and sideman. In October 2024, Ken Peplowski invited Jacob to play at the Oregon Coast Jazz Party in Newport, Oregon alongside Randy Brecker and Terell Stafford. Jacob has also played in Philadelphia with the Tyler Henderson Quartet at Chris’ Jazz Café and in New Hampshire at Jimmy’s Jazz and Blues with his own group. Jacob has played at several major Canadian venues and festivals including Frankie’s Jazz Club (Vancouver), Hermann’s Jazz Club (Victoria), and Upstairs Jazz Club (Montreal). In 2026, Jacob toured Armenia with the Inside the Bridge project, and is slated to perform in Indonesia, Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Japan. Jacob expects to release his fourth studio album as leader entitled That Secret Place in November 2026 on the Cellar Music Group label.

Short

New York City-based jazz saxophonist Jacob Chung tours internationally as both bandleader and sideman while maintaining an active performance schedule in NYC at Smalls Jazz Club, Ornithology Jazz Club, and other venues. Jacob plays as a sideman in the Chris Byars Octet, the Richard Cortez band, the Marty Scott Quintet, Mason Millard’s Eli’s All-Stars, and has shared the bandstand with Joe Magnarelli, the John Pizzarelli Big Band, Peter Washington, the Mingus Big Band, and Pasquale Grasso. In 2024, Jacob performed at the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts with Chuck Redd’s annual Christmas Eve Jazz Jam. In 2025, Jacob appeared on the acclaimed livestream series, “Emmet’s Place,” alongside Emmet Cohen, Phil Norris, Bryan Carter, and special guest Kurt Elling.

Jacob has released three albums as leader. His album The Sage (2024), featured Vincent Herring and Joe Farnsworth alongside Jacob’s esteemed NYC peers, pianist Tyler Henderson and bassist Caleb Tobocman. The Sage was named was named one of the best Canadian jazz albums of 2024 by journalist Peter Hum (Ottawa Citizen, 2024).

In 2026, Jacob toured Armenia with the Inside the Bridge cultural exchange project, and is slated to perform in Indonesia, Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Japan. Jacob expects to release his fourth studio album as leader entitled That Secret Place in November 2026 on the Cellar Music Group label.