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 is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Roots, Jazz, and American Music at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, where he 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.
Throughout his career, Tri has shared the stage with acclaimed artists including Jeff Denson, Gerald Cleaver, Erik Jekabson, David Sánchez, Matt Brewer, Warren Wolf, Edward Simon, Vince Lateano, and David Schroeder. He has also performed with major orchestras in the U.S. including the Oakland Symphony, the Minnesota Orchestra, and the San Francisco Symphony.
His performance credits include major events such as the San Francisco Jazz Festival (2025) and the International Jazz Day Festival (2024). 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.
