John Yao and His 17-piece Instrument (JY-17 for short) features the diverse compositions of composer, arranger, and trombonist, John Yao.  Established in 2014, the 17-piece ensemble is comprised of New York City’s finest jazz musicians including members of Grammy- award winning ensembles such as the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra and the Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra, both of which Yao has been a regular substitute for over a decade and have had a profound influence on his compositional style.  “At times angular and broken, other times linear and swinging, he offers a broad view of the possibilities of jazz composition,” says Jim McNeely of the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra.  The Midwest Record proclaims the JY-17 debut album “Flip-Flop” (See Tao Recordings) “A must set for big band fans that want to hear something that takes the form into the future, this blows the ears open in a mighty way”.  Yao founded the Big Band & Beyond Concert Series which included three concerts premiering new works for big band. In 2016, the JY-17 held a six-month residency at the ShapeShifter Lab in Brookyln, NY.  Yao’s unpredictable and inventive compositions and arrangements spring from the tradition while pointing towards future portals.  

For more info, please visit www.johnyao.com