Jazz Fest president Ruth Grigs named Jazz Journalism Association 2025 Jazz Hero
JJA 2025 Jazz Hero Ruth Griggs, president of the Northampton Jazz Festival, received her Award plaque from member Bonnie Johnson (of WICN, Worcester) in the company of 2024 Heroes Eugene Uman and Eisa Borrero (of the Vermont Jazz Center) at the Northampton fest’s headline presentation on Sept. 27 — a concert by New York Voices at the Academy of Music in Northampton, MA.
Northampton Jazz Fest featured on NEPM’s The Fabulous 413
Monte Belmonte and Kaliis Smith, hosts of The Fabulous 413 on New England Public Media, talk with Ruth Griggs, President of the Northampton Jazz Fest about the 2025 festival.
Listen to the Podcast (This segment starts at 34:06)
With 100 musicians lined up, Northampton Jazz Festival isn’t missing a beat
You know your jazz festival isn’t “missing a beat” when Downbeat Magazine — considered by many as the best jazz magazine in the world — pays attention to you.
“Mention the word ‘festival’ to jazz fans and chances are they’ll first think of legendary annual events at Newport, Monterey, Chicago, Detroit, New Orleans, Montreal or Montreux. However, quality jazz festivals take place in a variety of lesser-known locales as well. Although these festivals are smaller in scale, they can pack plenty of quality musicianship into intimate, comfortable surroundings — and create memorable experiences for jazz aficionados,” wrote Terry Perkins in the introduction to her article entitled “Northampton Jazz Festival: Small Town, Big Jazz Heart.”
Live Wire: Local pianist Stephen Page to lead trio at Northampton Jazz Festival
For local pianist Stephen Page, the Northampton Jazz Festival serves the community both artistically and culturally.
“Festivals like this are important so that people experience the vitality of jazz music. It transforms everyday reality into a creative form of conversation,” he said in a recent interview with The Republican.
A farewell tour in four-part harmony
New York Voices headline Northampton Jazz Fest, culminating two days of live music, Sept. 26 & 27
by Carolyn Brown September 12, 2025, Daily Hampshire Gazette
This year’s headliner will be New York Voices, a vocal jazz quartet that began as an ensemble at Ithaca College, at the Academy of Music on Sept. 27 at 7:30 p.m. After nearly 40 years together, the group is embarking on their farewell tour, “The Grand Finale,” which includes their performance in Northampton.
New York Voices: The Grand Finale in the Valley
For over three decades, New York Voices has stood at the pinnacle of jazz vocal artistry, blending intricate harmonies, improvisational brilliance, and genre-spanning versatility over their ten acclaimed albums. Formed in 1987, the GRAMMY-winning quartet, Peter Eldridge, Lauren Kinhan, Darmon Meader, and Kim Nazarian, has enchanted audiences worldwide, collaborating with jazz legends like the Count Basie Orchestra, Paquito D'Rivera, and the Dizzy Gillespie All-Star Big Band. What began as a college vocal ensemble at Ithaca College in upstate New York, evolved into one of the most influential and technically masterful vocal groups in jazz history. The quartet embarks on their much-anticipated final tour, "The Grand Finale," marking the end of an extraordinary era in vocal jazz.
The Boston Herald has praised them, noting that "New York Voices lives up to its reputation as the most exciting vocal ensemble in current jazz," while The New York Times shared "The New York Voices have a smooth blend and a comfortable mastery of pop-jazz harmony.” Today we are lucky to have them at the Northampton Jazz Festival!
“Sunset Thursdays” at The Eric Carle Museum presents live jazz by Northampton Jazz Festival
This summer, The Eric Carle Museum in Amherst, MA is a joyful gathering place filled with art viewing, art making, storytelling, live music, and more. From July 1 – August 31, 2025, visitors can experience thought-provoking exhibitions and fun programs for all ages, all summer long.
On Thursday evenings, the museum stays open until 8pm for Sunset Thursdays, presenting live jazz and global music performed by local artists, co-presented by the Northampton Jazz Festival. Visitors can enjoy wine from local vendors, order picnics to- go from area restaurants, or bring their own food to enjoy on the museum’s beautiful grounds.
Downbeat Magazine Features Northampton Jazz Festival in May Issue
Mention the word “festival” to jazz fans and chances are they’ll first think of legendary annual events at Newport, Monterey, Chicago, Detroit, New Orleans, Montreal or Montreux. However, quality jazz festivals take place in a variety of lesser-known locales as well. Although these festivals are smaller in scale, they can pack plenty of quality musicianship into intimate, comfortable surroundings — and create memorable experiences for jazz aficionados.
Case in point: the annual Northampton Jazz Festival in western Massachusetts.
Northampton Jazz Festival Board President Ruth Griggs Named Jazz Hero
Northampton Jazz Festival Board President Ruth Griggs has been named a Jazz Hero by the Jazz Journalists Association in its 25th annual recognition of “activists, advocates, altruists, aiders and abettors of jazz” across the United States.
Northampton Jazz Festival Presents Jazz Pianist, Sean Mason on March 12. New collaboration with area venues allows more jazz performances throughout the year
The Northampton Jazz Festival will present visiting jazz pianist Sean Mason in a one-night-only concert at The Drake in Amherst on Wednesday, March 12 at 7:30 p.m. entitled, “Sean Mason Quartet.”
“The Power of Music is Bigger than Us”
Anat Cohen has been captivating audiences worldwide with her virtuosity, warmth, generosity and unique blend of jazz traditions. She is a true maestro of the jazz clarinet. With her unique blend of classical technique, improvisational brilliance, and a deep understanding of jazz tradition, Cohen has become a leading figure in the contemporary jazz scene. Her ability to seamlessly navigate diverse musical styles, from traditional New Orleans jazz, Brazilian Choro to avant-garde explorations, has earned her a reputation as a versatile and groundbreaking artist. In this exclusive interview, we delve into her musical journey, her inspirations, collaborations and her new upcoming projects.
Jazz Without Borders: Northampton Jazz Festival Will Bring Musicians from Around the World on Sept. 27-28
The Northampton Jazz Festival will bring over 50 musicians from countries around the world to downtown Northampton on Friday, Sept. 27 and Saturday, Sept. 28. “Jazz Without Borders” describes how festival organizers will bring artists and music from all over the world infusing downtown with a cultural melting pot of sound, uniting people through the vibrant diversity of Jazz. On Friday, Sept. 27, the Jazz Strut launches this year’s festival and will run from 4:30 p.m. to midnight, starting at Pulaski Park with two student jazz combo performances from UConn and UMass. The headliner for this year’s festival is Anat Cohen Quartetinho, performing at The Academy of Music on Saturday, Sept. 28 at 7:30 p.m. Anat Cohen is a Grammy-nominated, multi-year, award-winning clarinetist who has created an intimate and joyful sound with her ensemble, “Quartetinho.” On Jazz Fest Day, Sept. 28, all daytime music is free and open to the public.
Northampton Jazz Festival Kicks Off 2024 with Jazz Film Night on June 13
The Northampton Jazz Festival will kick off its 2024 festival season with a documentary film, “Buster Williams Bass to Infinity,” directed and produced by Adam Kahan on Thursday, June 13 at 7 p.m. at Northampton Center for the Arts, 33 Hawley St.
Northampton Jazz Festival Welcomes Two New Board Members
The Northampton Jazz Festival has welcomed two new board members who bring broad skills and deep experience in entrepreneurship, marketing, community organizing and music from world cultures.
Crispy jazz tunes fill the air at the Northampton Jazz Festival
Vibrant harmonies and spontaneous improv solos filled the air on Friday, Sept. 29, as hundreds of people gathered in western Massachusetts to celebrate the uniqueness of the Northampton Jazz Festival.
Northampton Jazz Festival Celebrates Drummer Max Roach’s Centennial on Saturday, September 30
The 2023 Northampton Jazz Festival will kick off its two days of live jazz concerts at Pulaski Park on Friday, Sept. 29 with an evening Jazz Strut throughout downtown Northampton, and free performances will continue at four locations on Saturday, September 30.
Jazz, Rhythm, and Narrative - July 14 at CLICK Workspace
Jazz Rhythm and Narrative - an exhibition of Northampton High School student artwork - CLICK Workspace, July 14, 6 to 9 PM
Northampton Jazz Festival’s 2023 Jazz Film Night features Jazz Drummer Legend Max Roach
During this centennial year of jazz drummer, composer, bandleader and social activist Max Roach’s birth, the Northampton Jazz Festival will kick off its 2023 festival season with a newly premiered film, “Max Roach: The Drum Also Waltzes” on June 15 at 7 p.m. at Northampton Center for the Arts, 33 Hawley St.
Northampton Jazz Festival Seeks Musicians
The Northampton Jazz Festival is seeking jazz musicians to perform at participating downtown merchants and establishments leading up to Jazz Fest Day, September 30.
Jazz Artists in the Schools program returns after two-year hiatus
After a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, the Elliot Ross Memorial Jazz Artists in the Schools program has returned to Northampton High School with five guest musicians teaching four sessions to students in the Jazz and Rock Improvisation Workshop.