Trombonist Angela Wellman, hailing proudly from Kansas City, Missouri, has performed with the McCoy Tyner Big Band, Joe Williams, Al Grey, Slide Hampton and other noted musicians. Ms. Wellman is a graduate of the Eastman School of Music where she received a Masters degree in Music Education. She is also a recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Study Fellowship to study with trombonist, Steve Turre. From 1991-94, she was a California Arts Council Artist in Residence. During this time, she designed and implemented a Jazz Studies Curriculum for Cole Visual and Performing Arts Magnet School in Oakland, CA.

Raised in Kansas City, Missouri, Ms. Wellman was nurtured in a musical family and community. She grew up listening to her grandfather's stride piano, her father's swinging blues piano, and the ballad songstyle of her vocalist mother. Her initiation into the world of Jazz as a player began while hanging out at sessions at the famed chitlin' circuit Local 626, the once–Black musicians' union in Kansas City, and now sanctuary for the spirits of jazz pioneers such as Ernie Williams: The Last of the Blue Devils, Charlie Parker, Count Basie, and countless others who got their start in that very place. 

From 1997-2002, Angela served as the Education Director for the Oakland Youth Chorus (OYC). During her tenure with the OYC, she developed award-winning community music education program, Music in the Schools.

In 2005, Wellman founded the Oakland Public Conservatory of Music, which, as she states, is the 21st century iteration of the 20th century HBCU, the focus being American Musical culture and identity.

Wellman in presently splits residency between her hometown, Kansas City, MO and Oakland, CA.

Her band, New Roots, performs spirited, contemporary music, creating new forms, styles, and roots in the Jazz tradition.