John Yao is a trombonist, composer and bandleader who has cemented his place on the New York City jazz scene. Yao has released five albums as a leader. In 2015, Yao released his triumphant big band album “Flip-Flop” by John Yao and His 17-piece Instrument. Recent albums by John Yao’s Triceratops, 2022’s Off-Kilter and 2019’s How We Do, featured a front-line of Yao, Billy Drewes, and John Irabagon. As a trombonist, Yao has worked extensively as a sideman for the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, and Arturo O’Farrill and the Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra. and performed with esteemed musicians such as Paquito D’Rivera, Eddie Palmieri, Danilo Perez, Chris Potter and Kurt Elling. As a composer, Yao has been commissioned by Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra, Jazz Orchestra of Philadelphia, JMI Jazz World Orchestra, and Arsonore Spirit Orchestra among others. Yao serves as Assistant Professor of Trombone at Berklee College of Music, Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College, and as Adjunct Professor of Music at Molloy University. John is a 2025 Guggenheim Fellowship recipient in the field of music composition.