Sunday Jazz Brunch to Support Jazz Artists in the Schools Program
Tickets are on sale now for the Oct. 6 fundraiser with food, live music
NORTHAMPTON – Tickets are now on sale for the 2019 Northampton Jazz Festival Brunch, a Sunday, Oct. 6 fundraiser to benefit the Jazz Artists in the Schools Program, which exposes Northampton’s student musicians to the valuable mentorship of professional jazz artists.
The DeChamplain Quartet, based out of Hartford, Connecticut, will perform their gypsy-style music from noon to 2 p.m. with Atla DeChamplain on vocals, Matt DeChamplain on piano, Chris Morrison on guitar, and Matt Dwonszyk on bass.
The brunch funds the Jazz Artists in the Schools Program at John F. Kennedy Middle School.
“The program opens up a new realm of possibility for aspiring jazz musicians,” said Ruth Griggs, president of the Northampton Jazz Festival. “Expanding their exposure to jazz through direct, one-on-ones with professional jazz musicians is a tremendous bonus for the students.”
Thanks to generous donations from The Davis Financial Group of Hadley, the program has been able to offer unique workshops with professional jazz artists to the jazz band students at JFK and Northampton High School.
During the past school year, junior and senior high school jazz band students have worked with baritone saxophonist Gary Smulyan, tenor saxophonist Don Braden, vocalist Samirah Evans, trumpeter Don Anderson and vocalist Camille Thurman, and the Green Street Trio. The Jazz Artists in the Schools Program will continue when school returns in the fall, with programs set for November 18 and 19 with baritone saxaphonist Clare Daly at JFK, and Dec. 2 and 3 at NHS featuring trombonist and educator Steve Davis.
Tickets to the jazz brunch cost $40; $10 from each purchase will benefit the Davis Financial Group Jazz Artists in the Schools Program at JFK Middle School for the 2019-2020 school year.
The brunch will be held at The Delaney House, 3 Country Club Road in Holyoke, starting at 11 a.m.
The Sunday Jazz Brunch will wrap up the 2019 Northampton Jazz Festival, set for Friday, Oct. 4 through Sunday, Oct. 6. The event features three days of live music at various venues in downtown Northampton, including the main stage act, The Kurt Elling Quintet, which will perform on Oct. 5 at 7:30 p.m. at the Academy of Music.
For more information, to purchase tickets, or to donate to the Jazz Artists in the Schools Program, visit northamptonjazzfest.org.
