Chris Carpio

Those who lament the demise of the city's live music scene should keep an ear out for Chris, section of Hong Kong's first family of jazz. Along with dreadlocked sax-playing brother Bernard, Chris is reinventing the old-school big-band sound of father Tony for a new contemporary audience. A fiercely talented pianist who effortlessly glides between jazz, pop, rock and funk, this Hongkonger of Caucasian-Filipino descent has performed with a slew of international artists and local stars, including Jun Kung and Coco Lee. His mission — to bring back the excitement of live performance — dovetails with his modern approach to musical education, which he says should be fun, practical and not overly theoretical. With Chris and his Carpio Brothers Quartet bringing their youthful brand of jazz to the clubs of Central, our city just might start hitting those high notes again.

Secret to Success: Keeping it in the family and turning passion into a booming business.