About
“Langston is one of the most dynamic voices on the saxophone in his generation.”
— Ulysses Owens Jr., Jazz Drummer
Langston Hughes II is a saxophonist, woodwind doubler, composer, bandleader, and educator whose radiant tone, emotional clarity, and spiritual grounding have made him one of the most compelling young artists of his generation. Originally from Prince George’s County, Maryland, and now based in New York City, is an alum of both the historic Howard University and the famed Juilliard School. Hughes brings together the worlds that shaped him — The Blues, black gospel influences, the Washington D.C. jazz lineage, and the rigor of New York’s jazz scene — into a singular, deeply expressive voice.
“You Can See Right Through His Soul by the Sound That Comes Out of His Horn.” says Sanford Josephson (New Jersey Jazz Society)
ROOTED IN THE BLUES. RAISED IN COMMUNITY. SHAPED BY MENTORS.
Hughes’s musical journey began in the church, drawn to the voices and the transformative emotional truth of gospel music. He picked up the saxophone at age 10.
Though he initially entered Howard University as an engineering major, he quickly realized music was more than a passion — it was his calling. Under the mentorship of Charlie Young III, Cyrus Chestnut, Fred Irby III, Saïs Kamalidiin, and others, he found the discipline, honesty, and artistic identity that still guide him today.
By his senior year, he had become a sought-after voice in the D.C. scene, performing regularly while developing the lyrical sound that would become his signature.
A chance encounter with saxophonist Bruce Williams inspired him to apply to The Juilliard School, where he would earn his master’s degree in Jazz Studies.
ASCENT INTO THE NEW YORK SCENE
After beginning his studies at Juilliard, Hughes caught the attention of Wynton Marsalis and Ulysses Owens Jr., leading to opportunities to sub with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, including covering Ted Nash and Sherman Irby on an extended tour.
The experience affirmed a truth he carries with him:
“If you stay true to who you are, you’ll shine through.”
Since then, Hughes has become a dynamic presence on the New York jazz scene. He has toured or performed with artists such as Wynton Marsalis & the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, Cyrus Chestnut, Ulysses Owens Jr.’s Generation Y Band and has appeared at major venues and festivals including Blues Alley, Keystone Korner, The Kennedy Center, Smalls, Chris’ Jazz Café, the DC Jazz Festival, and others. His versatility across saxophone, flute, and clarinet has also led to work on Broadway and Off-Broadway, including A Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong Musical and Just in Time: The Bobby Darin Story. He is a former Strathmore Artist in Residence and a Betty Carter Jazz Ahead alumnus.
EDUCATOR, MENTOR, AND ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Hughes’s story is deeply intertwined with FAME (Foundation for the Advancement of Music & Education). A former student in the FAME Jazz Band, he has spent the past decade evolving from participant to teaching artist to mentor — and now, Artistic Director of the FAME Jazz Band.
“Langston’s journey from student to mentor embodies everything FAME stands for.”
— A. Toni Lewis, Founder & CEO, FAME
Through FAME and his private studio, Hughes has taught dozens of students, led workshops across the country, and built educational programs that focus equally on technical mastery, artistic development, and community impact. His leadership is both artistic and personal — rooted in gratitude for the mentors who shaped him and a commitment to lifting up the next generation.