“Every now and then, a musician comes along who has a vision and focus that you just know will affect the world—a sense of high artistry, skill, and profound leadership. Skylar Tang is one of the ones in her generation who fits this description.”
— Sean Jones
Trumpeter and composer Skylar Tang is one of the most exciting young voices in jazz today.
Raised in California's Bay Area, Tang discovered jazz through her father's record collection, where the music of Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, and Bill Evans sparked a lifelong passion. She began playing trumpet at age nine, started composing as a teenager, and quickly distinguished herself as an artist with both remarkable technical ability and an original musical voice.
Her composition Kaleidoscope earned first prize in Jazz at Lincoln Center's prestigious Essentially Ellington Student Composition & Arranging Contest, and while studying at Columbia University, she was invited by saxophone great Joshua Redman to record on his 2025 album Words Fall Short.
Now based in New York City, Tang leads a quartet of outstanding young musicians: pianist William Schwartzman, bassist John Murray, and drummer Ethan Oliver. Together they create performances that balance adventurous improvisation with lyrical melodies, thoughtful compositions, and the energetic interplay that makes live jazz so compelling. The quartet has performed throughout the United States and recently appeared at the 2026 Montreal Jazz Festival.
Already sharing stages with artists including Joshua Redman, the SFJAZZ Collective, the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Sean Jones, and Rufus Reid, Skylar Tang represents a new generation of jazz musicians honoring the tradition while developing a voice entirely their own.
Don't miss the opportunity to hear one of jazz's rising stars in the intimate listening room of Caffè Lena.
The Peak Jazz Series is made possible by the generous support of Joseph & Luann Conlon in memory of Joel Moss.
Stream this show live at Caffè Lena TV. Livestream available for $5 – 100% of live stream tickets on CaffeLenaTV benefit the artists. Subscribe for unlimited live streaming, two week access to recent shows, and Caffe Lena's video archive.
Note: Caffe Lena does not permit ticket reselling above face value. Tickets purchased for the purpose of resale may be canceled without notice, and refunds for such purchases will not be granted.
