Gia Huy (Jack) Ha’s jazz journey began not in a club or concert hall, but in the quiet countryside of Vietnam, where he first sang for friends and neighbors as a child. Even then, people recognized something special in his voice — though their praise made him shy, it quietly planted the first seed of his lifelong passion for music.

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   When Jack moved to the United States, he attended Sam Houston High School, where his early interests in computer engineering and culinary arts shifted toward music during the COVID-19 lockdown. Spending more time online, he discovered a deeper connection to music and began teaching himself to sing and play guitar in 2020, posting Vietnamese song covers on social media. Though his early attempts received little attention, that challenge inspired him to take music more seriously.

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   Encouraged by his advisor, Jack joined the school choir in 10th grade and performed for two years, culminating in a solo performance of “One More Song” at the AT&T Performing Arts Center — a defining moment that affirmed his love for performing.

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   After graduation, Jack studied at Tarrant County College, where he built a strong foundation in vocal technique through opera training and began studying music theory and musicianship fundamentals. He also joined the college’s music club, performing at local restaurants across different cities, which gave him early experiences connecting with diverse audiences. During this time, Jack was first introduced to jazz through his college jazz class. Many listeners noticed a natural bluesy color in his tone — a quality that drew him closer to jazz’s expressive world.

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   Jack later joined a local Vietnamese band called AM Band, where he gained live performance experience at community and cultural events, including the Hong Kong New Year Festival and a wedding performance in late 2024. His time with the band helped him grow as a stage performer and learn the value of collaboration. Eventually, he decided to part ways with the group to focus more deeply on his jazz studies and artistic growth.

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   Now a Jazz Vocal Performance major at the University of Texas at Arlington, Jack continues to refine his artistry — blending his Vietnamese heritage with the expressive language of jazz to create a sound that is intimate, nostalgic, and full of soul. With a vision to one day bring jazz back to Vietnam, Jack hopes to share its authentic roots and add new colors to his home country’s musical landscape.