Langston Hughes

Langston Hughes II is an accomplished saxophonist, woodwind doubler, composer, and educator, rapidly emerging as one of the most promising young voices in jazz and beyond.
Originally from the Washington, D.C. area, Langston began playing saxophone in the Prince George’s County public school system and honed his craft at Howard University under the mentorship of Charlie Young III and Cyrus Chestnut. He recently earned his master’s degree in Jazz Studies from The Juilliard School, where his professionalism and artistry quickly caught the attention of leading artists and educators.
Langston has toured with Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, performed with Jazzmeia Horn, Rufus Reid, Orrin Evans, and joined Ulysses Owens Jr.’s Generation Y band for a residency in Tokyo, Japan. As a bandleader, he has headlined at Blues Alley, Keystone Korner, The Kennedy Center, and the DC Jazz Festival.
In addition to his work as a performer, Langston is becoming an in-demand woodwind chair on and off Broadway. His recent credits include A Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong Musical, Just in Time: The Bobby Darin Story, and other Off-Broadway productions.
He is a former Strathmore Artist in Residence and a graduate of the Kennedy Center’s Betty Carter’s Jazz Ahead program. A dedicated educator, Langston teaches privately and through FAME, striving to uplift and inspire the next generation of musicians.

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

Get App

Host or Publisher BlackRock Center for the Arts