Born in Seoul, pianist Min Rager first arrived in Canada in 1997 to study jazz at Montréal's McGill University. Already a seasoned performer from her days of playing in various Seoul jazz clubs, Rager graduated with high honours in 2003, and immediately formed her own ensemble, the Min Rager Quintet. The band released their first CD Bright Road in 2005, which was recorded live the year before at CBC studios for a Radio 2 broadcast. Featuring Kevin Dean (trumpet), Walt Weiskopf (tenor saxophone), Donny Kennedy (alto sax), Fraser Hollins, Alec Walkington (bass), Josh Rager (piano) and Andre White (drums), First Steps came out in 2009.