Northampton Jazz Festival 2023
Max Roach Centennial Quintet
Courtesy Northampton Jazz Festival
It's that time of year again in Northampton! The town's annual Jazz Festival returns after a triumphant, sold-out show in 2022. This year brings in the Max Roach Centennial Celebration, an All-Star band of heavyweights paying tribute to one of jazz's all-time greats. Below is just a glance at what's happening this year — the festival runs both Friday, September 29th, and Saturday, September 30th — but for all the details and to buy tickets, head over to NorthamptonJazzFest.org today!
Friday, Sept. 29, 2023
Downtown Jazz Strut
4:30-11:30 pm
JAZZ STRUT LINEUP
Stroll, sip and dine your way through downtown Northampton to the sounds of jazz ensembles at establishments across town. The Jazz Strut features free evening jazz performances in breweries, bars and restaurants throughout downtown Northampton. Each ensemble starts at 30-minute intervals and plays for two hours, so you can be sure to catch a lot of live jazz and good times on Jazz Strut night!
Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023
Jazz Fest Day
11:30 am -9:00 pm
JAZZ FEST DAY LINEUP
The FREE music lineup features jazz musicians from around the region and across the globe performing in a variety of downtown venues throughout the day, followed by a special evening with the Max Roach Centennial Celebration, performing a ticketed show at the Academy of Music.
Max Roach Centennial Celebration with the Joe Farnsworth Quintet including special guest George Coleman, with Christian Sands on piano, Peter Washington on bass and Jeremy Pelt on trumpet
Avery Sharpe Quartet & the Extended Family Choir
Camille Thurman & the Darrell Green Quartet
Mark Whitfield
Vanisha Gould Quartet
Danny Jonokuchi & The Revisionists
Vuyo Sotashe with Chris Pattishall
Hot Club of New York
UMass Jazz Ensemble
Lindy League of Western Mass.
Expandable Brass Band