John Yao & his 17-piece Instrument
After a ten-year hiatus, Trombonist and composer John Yao presents the long-awaited return of his stellar big band, the 17-Piece Instrument. Points in Time, out July 11, 2025 via See Tao Recordings, celebrates memorable personal and musical moments from Yao’s two-decade experience in New York City. It’s been 20 years since trombonist, composer, arranger and bandleader John Yao arrived in New York City; 10 years have passed since the release of his first big band album, the exuberant Flip-Flop. He celebrates that tandem anniversary with Points in Time, the long-awaited follow-up by John Yao & His 17-Piece Instrument (JY-17). While the album arrives as a commemoration of those two significant dates, the music it contains is deeply informed by a number of professional and personal milestones that have marked that two-decade journey.
Led by Trombonist, composer and arranger John Yao, the 17-piece ensemble features Yao's diverse compositions, which offer a broad view of the possibilities of jazz composition. Yao aims to bring the big band into the future through his explorations of form, texture, color and twelve-tone composition techniques combined with swing, latin and funk grooves. Yao seeks to stretch the limits of big band jazz all while staying connected to traditional big band style.
What The Press Is saying
★★★★ “… Yao, already a respected composer and arranger has taken a large step forward here. Flip-Flop, his first album leading the well-oiled 17-piece Instrument was impressive: Points in Time is even better and warmly recommended.” — Jack Bowers, All About Jazz
“An immersive musical experience. Each track offers both artistic sophistication and genuine emotional resonance…a triumphant return, an artist reclaiming his voice, his vision, and the wide open space of the big band format, and making it sing once more.” —Thierry De Clement, Paris Move
“Yao puts on full display why he’s a recently named Guggenheim Fellow.” — Craig Byrd, Cultural Attache
“Yao reminds us that big band jazz still has something to say and that sometimes, the biggest statements come from the most personal places.” — Tim Larsen, Jazz Views
“A fascinating work that shows how vibrant, exciting and innovative orchestral jazz can sound today.”— Jacek Burn, Jazz Fun
“This work is not just a big band recording but a meditation on growth, struggle and creative clarity.”— Pierre Giroux, All About Jazz
“It’s simply a lot of fun and will appeal to more than just dedicated big band fans.”—Christopher Giese, NRW Jazz
Praise for Flip-Flop:
“At times angular and broken, other times linear and swinging, he offers a broad view of the possibilities of jazz composition.” Jim McNeely, Vanguard Jazz Orchestra
[Flip-Flop] showcased Yao’s unpredictable compositions and inventive arrangements, which spring from tradition while pointing towards future portals. Jeff Potter, DownBeat
“Yao not only puts a fresh coat of paint to big band sounds, but redoes the foundation and expands a few rooms. Exciting through and through.” George Harris, Jazz Weekly
“A must set for big band fans that want to hear something that takes the form in to the future, this blows the ears open in a mighty way.” Chris Spector, Midwest Record
“At times burnished and melodious, at others loose and strident, it forms a colorful tapestry that is never less than alluring.” Jack Bowers, All About Jazz
“It’s always cool to find a big band that really kicks and Yao’s 10 original tunes here are endlessly surprising, his arrangements always riveting.” Jay Miller, Patriot Ledger
“Hold on tight for one of the wildest rides ever to shake up the big band genre.” Ron Netsky, Rochester City Newspaper
Compositions, Conductor, Trombone: John Yao,
Saxes: John O'Gallagher, Alejandro Aviles, Rich Perry, Jon Irabagon, Frank Basile
Trumpets: John Walsh, Jason Wiseman, David Smith, Andy Gravish
Trombones: Luis Bonilla, Matt McDonald, Tokunouri Kajiwara, Jennifer Wharton
Rhythm Section: Jesse Stacken, Robert Sabin, Vince Cherico
Big band & Beyond Concert Series
Premiering New Works
In 2015, Yao founded the Big Band & Beyond Concert Series featuring the JY-17 premiering new for big band at each concert. The series goal is to further new works in the genre and to offer a broad view of the possibilities of jazz composition. The Series has completed it's first season comprised of three concerts with the next season in the works for 2018. Stay tuned for more details.
Kickstarter funded!
In 2016, John ran a Kickstarter campaign with a goal of $10,000 to fundthree concerts of the 2016-17 Big Band & Beyond Concert Series inaugural season. I'm happy to share we exceeded our goal and raised $11,141! Thanks to all of you who supported the campaign. Stay tuned for more info about the next season of the Big Band & Beyond Concert Series.