Sarah Hanahan Quartet

Sarah Hanahan is a dynamic, soulful alto saxophonist swiftly emerging as one of the most compelling new voices in jazz. A graduate of both the Jackie McLean Institute of Jazz in Hartford, CT and The Juilliard School in New York City, she blends deep-rooted swing and bebop traditions with a bold, modern intensity—an approach shaped by her rigorous training and fearless artistic vision.

Hanahan has performed with jazz luminaries, including Jeff “Tain” Watts, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Nicholas Payton, Peter Washington, and Joe Farnsworth. Her commanding tone, technical mastery, and melodic imagination have taken her to major stages across the U.S. and abroad.

Her debut album, Among Giants (2024)—featuring Marc Cary, Nat Reeves, and Jeff “Tain” Watts—earned critical acclaim, including a 5-star review in DownBeat magazine and placement in their Top Albums of the Year list in 2024 and 2025. In 2025, Hanahan was named DownBeat’s #1 Rising Star Alto Saxophonist further cementing her status as one of the leading voices of her generation.