Artist Spotlight: Tan Weixiang

Spotlight

Feb 4

Knowledge, Curiosity, and the Next Chapter of Singapore Jazz

Every jazz scene needs its scholars as much as its stars. In Singapore, Tan Weixiang represents a rare balance of both.

Often described as one of the “young lions” of the local jazz scene, Tan Weixiang’s journey into jazz was anything but conventional. A latecomer to the music, he began piano studies at 15 and discovered jazz only at 21 — while studying law. What followed was not a detour, but a calling: one that led him from hotel lounges in Singapore to major cities around the world, and ultimately into the heart of Singapore’s jazz ecosystem.

At Lion City Jazz Festival 2026, Tan Weixiang appears across multiple touchpoints — as a performer, educator, and storyteller — embodying the festival’s belief that jazz is both lived experience and shared knowledge.

A Late Start, A Deep Commitment

Tan’s musical ascent was swift but grounded. A protégé of Thelonious Monk alumnus Victor Gaskin, his career accelerated after his first professional engagement at a hotel lounge in Singapore over two decades ago.

Since then, he has performed extensively across major cities worldwide, sharing stages with Grammy Award nominees and winners such as Brian Lynch, Stanley Jordan, and Dave Samuels. Pianist Jean-Michel Pilc once described Wei’s playing as “truthlessly inventive” — a reflection of both imagination and rigor.

His music is informed by a lifelong engagement with jazz history, yet remains responsive to the present — shaped by curiosity, literature, and lived experience.

Music in Service of Community

While his work has taken him around the globe, Tan’s commitment to community remains central. He has supported charitable initiatives ranging from aiding elephant orphans in Kenya to working with children and youths with special needs in Singapore.

In 2008, he was named New Yorker of the Week by NY1 for performances in homeless shelters — recognition that underscored his belief that jazz belongs everywhere, not only in concert halls.

Performer, Educator, Thinker

Alongside performance, Tan Weixiang has maintained a strong academic presence. He has taught as an adjunct professor at New York University and served as a full-time lecturer at LASALLE College of the Arts, contributing to the development of jazz education in Singapore and abroad.

This dual role — performer and educator — places him at a unique intersection within the festival: someone equally comfortable on stage and in conversation, playing and explaining, performing and contextualising.

Jazz Appreciation Talk: Understanding the Music

Tan’s educational role comes into focus at LCJF 2026 through the Jazz Appreciation Talk, designed as an accessible entry point into the music.

Jazz Appreciation Talk

Jazz. A History
by Tan Weixiang

Date: Sat, 28 Feb 2026
Time: 4:00pm – 5:00pm
Venue: Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre, Recital Studio L6
Tickets: $15
More info:
https://www.lioncityjazz.com/jazz-appreciation-talk

Featuring Genevieve Seah (vocals), Bryan de Rozario (saxophone), Ernest Tan (guitar), Richmond Lip (bass), and Tristan Seow (drums), the session blends guided listening, live demonstrations, and storytelling to trace jazz’s evolution from its roots to its contemporary forms.

Singaporeana: Our Sound, Our Stories

Tan Weixiang also appears as a featured artist in Singaporeana, one of LCJF 2026’s defining concerts.

Singaporeana – Our Sound, Our Stories
https://www.lioncityjazz.com/singaporeana

Date: Sat, 7 Mar 2026
Time: 7:30pm – 9:00pm
Venue: Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre Auditorium, Level 9
Tickets:
- Cat 1: $50
- Cat 2: $35

Rooted in jazz but expansive in spirit, Singaporeana weaves together voices from across Singapore’s musical landscape — celebrating shared identity through groove, improvisation, and dialogue.

The Finale: Shared Language, Collective Energy

Tan Weixiang also takes the stage at the festival’s culminating moment:

Finale Concert – The Brecker Brothers & Beyond
https://www.lioncityjazz.com/finale-concert-the-music-of-the-brecker-brothers

Date: Sat, 28 Mar 2026
Time: 7:30pm – 9:30pm
Venue: Gateway Theatre, Singapore

Led by Randy Brecker and Ada Rovatti, the Finale Concert brings together an international ensemble under the JASSYO! banner — reflecting the collaborative spirit at the heart of the festival.

Jazz as Knowledge, Jazz as Practice

Tan Weixiang’s presence at Lion City Jazz Festival 2026 reminds us that jazz is not only something to be felt, but something to be understood. Through performance, education, and quiet service, he represents a generation of musicians committed to keeping the music thoughtful, inclusive, and alive.