When shes onstage, Jihye Lee does not belong to her audience. Instead, shes at one with her band. As the conductor, her hands sway with intention, and every member of the orchestra ebbs and flows through each piece. The songs they play are rife with emotion they reflect not just Lees own stories but those of her female ancestors, who live on in each riff and each melody.

Even if youre not a jazz aficionado, its easy to get quickly drawn in by Lees music . Driven by pulsating rhythms and swells of brass, each track on her album Infinite Connections , which dropped earlier this year, is a journey on its own. The harmonies feel fresh and full of surprises, yet comforting at the same time.