Identity by Peter Lin & AAPI Jazz Collective

The AAPI Jazz Collective is an all-star ensemble featuring up-and-coming AAPI jazz artists throughout the tri-state area. For this group, proper AAPI (which stands for Asian American Pacific Islanders) representation in the jazz landscape is important to achieve a deeper understanding of their respective cultures, especially in response to the repeated hate crimes that arose from the pandemic. Formed in 2019 by Taiwanese-American trombonist, Peter Lin, this ensemble strives to promote empathy through passionate musical expression. The AAPI Jazz Collective performs jazz-infused arrangements of classic and traditional Asian songs, as well as exciting originals they appropriately label as “The New Asian Songbook”. Their debut album releasing on Origin Records, titled “Identity”, is not only a proper representation of their long relationship together, but also a guiding light for many other young AAPI artists looking for inspiration.

“Trombonist Peter Lin is one of the 21st century’s young jazz lions, blending the freshness of the future with the robust jazz tradition. He often plays the classics with veteran saxophonists such as Don Braden and Jerry Weldon, but he really shines as Director of the Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Jazz Collective. The AAPI Jazz Collective showcases some of the top Asian and Asian-American jazz artists, creating and performing jazz interpretations of Asian pop and folk tunes but also putting their own spin on American Songbook and Jazz standards. The new AAPI Jazz Collective album on Origin Records brings this wonderful music to a wider audience.”

- Sandy Josephson (Editor, Jersey Jazz Magazine)

"Traditions in transformation! This is an incredibly moving collection of works that contributes to the unique voice and intersectional identity of AAPI’s as well as the dynamic cultural force that jazz represents."

- Francis Wong, saxophonist, co-founder of Asian Improv Records, Asian American Studies lecturer

"AAPI Jazz Collective's album release come July will surely give us something to celebrate. I expect not only a cultural nod from many in the AAPI community, but a horde of new listeners drawn to the thrilling variety of musical influences spanning pan-Asia in this album. I'm already hooked on "Alishan Girl" which is simply too easy to groove with and transports me to a time only the imagination can take me to, and yet, it rings with a modern cool. I'm on the edge of my seat waiting for this album release."

- Sarah Belle Lin, contributing writer for Hot House Magazine

Peter Lin is a Taiwanese-American trombonist, producer, and educator based in New Jersey & New York City.

peterlinmusic.com
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