Kevin Huang

Alto saxophonist, composer, and arranger Kevin Huang has emerged as a rising star in the jazz community with a uniquely lyrical and modern voice on his instrument. A versatile performer, Kevin has performed on internationally renowned stages including Carnegie Hall, the Umbria Jazz festival, the Nice Jazz Festival, JZ Club Shanghai, and Chris’s Jazz Cafe. He has performed with industry giants including Q-Tip (A Tribe Called Quest), Vicente Archer (Robert Glasper), Gilberto Santa Rosa, and Ledisi. Kevin is a current student at Berklee College of Music, where he has studied with Godwin Louis, Frank Tiberi, JD Allen, Dave Santoro, Darren Barrett, and Billy Kilson. His artistry has been recognized with numerous awards, including a first place prize in the 2023 Gerry Mulligan Competition, the 2023 Rick Kerber Scholarship, the Gamba Creative Arts Scholarship, and a 2023 YoungArts Award. 

Born in Shanghai, China and raised in Princeton, New Jersey, Kevin began playing saxophone at an early age. A product of the vibrant New Jersey jazz ecosystem, he began his formal training in high school at the prestigious NJPAC TD Jazz for Teens program in Newark, NJ, where he was mentored by Jazz legends including Mark Gross, Wayne Escoffery, Michael Thomas, Jeb Patton, and Valery Ponomarev. This time at the Jazz for Teens program served as a cornerstone for Kevin’s musical upbringing by instilling the importance of jazz tradition and history that would define his voice in his career. 

A prominent fixture in the Boston jazz scene, Kevin maintained a long-standing weekly residency as a bandleader at the historic Wally’s Jazz Cafe, where he refined his improvisational voice and showcased original compositions with his band. A current student of Berklee College of Music, he performs regularly with his own groups in local Boston venues including the Berklee Performance Center, the Lilypad Inman, the Mad Monkfish, and the Piano Craft Gallery. With a focus on storytelling through lyrical melodies with modern jazz grooves and improvisation, Kevin’s own compositions take inspiration from contemporary jazz influences including Joel Ross, Brian Blade, and Myron Walden. 

Looking ahead, Kevin is currently planning and writing music for the release of his debut EP, which will be a collection of his original compositions. This project serves as a definitive statement of his artistic evolution, capturing the energy honed during his years on the cutting-edge Jazz musical scene. As he continues to expand his global footprint, Kevin remains dedicated to pushing the boundaries of the alto saxophone, cementing his place as a progressive force in the future of modern jazz.

Awards

1st place prize winner in 2023 Gerry Mulligan Competition

2023 YoungArts Honorable Mention Award

2023 Rick Kerber Scholarship

Gear

Selmer Super Balanced Action

Vandoren V16 A6

TB Winds Ligature

Size 2.5 BSS Red Box Reeds

Tags