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.