Queens Jazz Trail Concert: John Yao & his 17-Piece Instrument
Thursday, July 30, 2026
7:00 PM
Kupferberg Center for the Arts
65-30 Kissena Boulevard, Queens, NY 11367
Scheduled
About This Event
John Yao leads a 17-piece ensemble that treats the band as a single instrument, presenting original charts focused on dense brass voicings, layered sections and clear rhythmic architecture. At the Kupferberg Center for the Arts, the group presents arrangements that highlight Yao’s interest in orchestration and structured improvisation, favoring color and form over spectacle.
About the Artists
John Yao
Explore jazz music by John Yao, including albums, projects, media, and educational resources. Discover innovative big band arrangements and upcoming performances.
John Yao & His 17-Piece Instrument
John Yao & His 17-Piece Instrument is a large-ensemble project led by composer and arranger John Yao, whose work spans big-band writing and jazz education. At New York City performances, including the Kupferberg Center for the Arts, the group presents original charts built around dense brass voicings, layered sections, and clear rhythmic architecture.
Jonny Kao
Jonny Kao is a New York–based composer, arranger, and bandleader whose work often centers on large-ensemble writing. At the Kupferberg Center for the Arts, he has been presented on the Queens Jazz Trail with Jonny Kao & His 17-Piece Instrument, and he has also performed in projects led by composer-arranger John Yao, including John Yao & His 17-Piece Instrument.
Jonny Kao & His 17-Piece Instrument
Jonny Kao & His 17-Piece Instrument is a large-ensemble jazz group heard in New York City settings including the Kupferberg Center for the Arts, where it appears on the Queens Jazz Trail. The band works in the modern big-band tradition, shaped by composer-arranger approaches associated with figures like John Yao and his 17-piece ensemble.