The Northampton Arts Council works to support and nurture the arts in the city of Northampton. The Council awards grants twice each year to artists and arts groups from both state and locally-raised funds, and seeks to improve public awareness of the arts. Its' goals include maintaining and preserving the rich and diverse cultural heritage of Northampton, programming such annual events of interest to the community as First Night Northampton and Transperformance.

Friday, May 1, 2015

Northampton Jazz Workshop: Alto Saxophonist Sarah Manning


  • Northampton Jazz Workshop features guest alto saxophonist Sarah Manning 
  • Tuesday, May 5th, 7:30 to 8:30 PM followed by an open jazz jam until 10:30 PM 
  • The Loft at the Clarion Hotel, 1 Atwood Dr (Rt. 5 at Exit 18 off I 91), Northampton, MA



Sarah Manning is a saxophonist, composer and artist empathist. She fights for creative sustainability by building empathy between artist and fan through performing, writing and speaking. As a saxophonist and composer, she has released four critically acclaimed albums and is a Posi-Tone recording artist. Her current release, Harmonious Creature (Posi-Tone 2014) received 4 stars in DownBeat Magazine, was an eMusic pick of the week and was the focus of a June 2014 profile feature in JazzTimes. Harmonious Creature was also chosen by the LA Times as one of the best jazz albums of 2014. She has led her group at venues from Yoshi’s and Kuumbwa Jazz on the West Coast to Cornelia Street, Dizzy’s and the Tanglewood Jazz Festival on the East Coast. She is an occasional collaborator with Jon Madof’s Zion80, performing with them at the Stone and at the 2013 Saalfelden Jazz Festival. In addition to support as a composer in the form of a Fellowship from the MacDowell Colony in 2012, she has received grants from the Northampton Arts Council and the Puffin Foundation to support performance residencies that break down the barrier between artist and audience. Her most recent essay titled "The Pomplamoose Problem: Artists Can’t Survive as Saints and Martyrs", went viral on social media and reached an audience of over one hundred thousand at her blog, www.artistempathy.com. She can be found on Twitter @artistempathy.

Upcoming Guest Artists:
5/12 – Max Pollack- tap dancer supreme

5/19 – Blues and Art – Fred Clayton/vocals Jimmy Morrell/guitar and Greg Stone/showing paintings

5/26 - Hendrik Meurkens on harmonica and vibes

The concert set starts at 7:30, followed immediately by the jam session until 10:30. No cover or minimum. The Loft at the Clarion Hotel (413) 586-1211, 1 Atwood Dr (Rt. 5 at Exit 18 off I 91), Northampton, MA.

For photos of past NJW shows and related news, events and buzz, please see (and Like us) on FB at: www.facebook.com/NorthamptonJazzWorkshop

Sunday, May 3rd-Tenor saxophonist Benny Sharoni appears with Jon Fisher, Franz Robert and Jason Schwartz at Sundays Swing at the Hinge, 6:30PM.


Wednesday, May 6th at 7:30PM- Valley Jazz Network presents a conversation with jazz legend Curtis Fuller, facilitated by Javon Jackson. UMASS FAC Atrium -free admission. (please see attached poster).

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