Hard bop swing trio. Influenced by the groups of Sonny Rollins, John Coltrane, Thelonious Monk. Playing with the emphasis and conviction of swing, stomp, and dance. Ben Malynoski and Jacob Smith are both natives of Northampton, MA and recent college graduates from The Hartt School at University of Hartford and The Frost School of Music at University of Miami respectively.

Vocalist Ryan Hollander has a unique style, which blends classic sophistication and contemporary relevance. With deep roots in the jazz tradition, Ryan’s mature and historically-informed sound carries with it an uncompromising sense of freshness and individuality, integrating elements of pop, R&B, and rock.

.mp3 is a genre-bending trio driven by a spirit of fearless creativity. With roots in jazz and hip-hop, they avoid easy categorization by harnessing improvisation, rhythmic interplay, and emotional nuance to craft a sound entirely their own. .mp3 brings a fresh voice to the modern jazz landscape, pushing boundaries with intention and intensity.

This dynamic jazz piano and cello duet brings a bold blend of improvisation and classical expression to their own unique arrangements of jazz standards and original works. Expect to hear a few pieces by some of our favorite pianists, such as Bill Evans, Chick Corea, and Michel Petrucciani, pieces by Wayne Shorter, Miles Davis, Clifford Brown and Frank Zappa, as well as a few of Fontana’s original compositions.

Free live jazz all night

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!

Free live jazz all day + a headliner

Jazz Fest Day features a free music lineup of jazz musicians from around the region and across the country performing in a variety of downtown venues throughout the day, followed by a special evening with internationally known artists performing a ticketed concert at the Academy of Music.