Tri Pham - Jazz at the Center

Tri Pham is a Vietnamese jazz guitarist, composer, and educator originally from Saigon, Vietnam, and currently based in San Francisco, California.

Growing up in Vietnam, Tri’s earliest musical influences came from Vietnamese folk music, traditional lullabies, and popular songs. As a teenager, he became fascinated by rock, fusion, and progressive music, drawing inspiration from artists such as Casiopea, Radiohead, Supertramp, and Toto. In his early twenties, he discovered jazz through the recordings of Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Sonny Rollins, and John Coltrane, while also developing a deep appreciation for Brazilian music through the works of Antônio Carlos Jobim and João Gilberto.

Tri currently studies with Randy Vincent and Anthony Wilson. He also studied with respected jazz educators including Mimi Fox, David Becker, and David Valdez, and has participated in masterclasses with renowned artists such as John Scofield, Wolfgang Muthspiel, Kurt Rosenwinkel, and Gilad Hekselman. He has appeared at renowned venues throughout the San Francisco Bay Area, including SFJAZZ, Paramount Theatre, Black Cat Jazz Supper Club, Bird & Beckett, and The Dawn Club, as well as notable jazz venues in Vietnam such as Binh Minh Jazz Club, BOSSA Jazz Spot, and Coi Saigon.

In addition to his work as a performer, Tri is a dedicated educator with more than a decade of teaching experience. He has taught at leading private music schools in Vietnam and the SF Bay Area and currently serves as a jazz theory & musicianship tutor at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. Through both in-person and online instruction, he works with students from across the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, and Asia, helping musicians of all ages & all levels develop their skills and creativity.

At the Center

The Center for Musical Arts proudly presents our "at the Center" concert series, where our goal is to give Sacramento musicians the event space they deserve. Music school by day, concert venue by night—our listening room features a stage, baby grand piano, and an intimate 30-seat capacity.