Owing to his versatility as a trombonist, composer, and arranger, Yao has enjoyed a steady rise on the New York City jazz scene since arriving from his native Chicago in 2005. He has worked extensively as a sideman for such iconic bands as the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra and the Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra, both of which have had great influence on John as artistic director, conductor and composer/arranger of the Yaozeki Big Band. Separately, his small ensemble, John Yao Quintet, released its début recording "In the Now" in April 2012 on Innova Recordings. He received his Bachelors of Music, Jazz Studies from Indiana University and his Masters of Jazz Performance/Composition from Queens College.