Northampton Jazz Workshop features vocalist Steven Santoro Tuesday, May 1st, 7:30 to 8:30PM

Northampton Jazz Workshop features vocalist Steven Santoro Tuesday, May 1st, 7:30 to 8:30PM followed by an open jazz jam session until 10:30 PM at the The City Sports Grille at Spare Time Northampton, 525 Pleasant St., Northampton.

Hi All,

This week we welcome for the first time vocalist, songwriter and educator Steven Santoro. Steven is a native of this area, having studied at UMASS with Dr. Horace Boyer. He then moved to LA where he recorded his first album and toured as opening act for Bob James and Harvey Mason. From there he was on to NYC before moving back here to take a position teaching on the faculty of Berklee in Boston. He has been a background singer for Sting in the UK, an arranger and producer for many artists including Kate McGarry and worked with a number of great jazz artists. Here's a quote from his bio: (https://www.stevensantoro.com)

During his time in NYC Steven started relationships with and began playing and recording with some of the heaviest players in town, many of whom he still plays with today, including James Genus, Clarence Penn, Jon Cowherd, Marc Ciprut, Nathan Childers, Bob James, Nathan East, Greg Wells, Ray Brinker, Lee Ritenour, Harvey Mason, Mitchell Forman, Alan Broadbeach, Carlos Vega, Joe Porcaro, Dean Parkers, Lee Sklar, John Patitucci, Chuck Domanico, Emil Richards, Paula Cole, Chris Botti and Kate McGerry. 

I hope you can join us to hear a really gifted singer and improviser who masterfully fuses pop and jazz and, has a beautiful voice.

I would also like to point out that May 1st is Valley Gives Day. While I am not asking for any donations for our Workshop on Valley Gives Day because you all give so generously already, having supported us for over 8 years now (and we are not a non-profit anyway), the Northampton Jazz Festival is a non-profit and is participating in Valley Gives Day and we'd like to ask for your support. 

The Workshop and the Festival are now connected in that together, we are developing a program to bring some of our guest soloists to the Northampton Public Schools for workshops and concerts. Donations on Valley Gives Day will help support our new Jazz in the Northampton Public Schools Program. Several of us involved with the Workshop are also spearheading the newly revived Festival, happening this year on October 19 through 21, so we are reaching out to those of you who might want to help ensure a successful first year of the new Festival.  

On Tuesday, after the concert set, we will say a few words about the Festival and make our pitch. After that, there will be a short teaser set just before the jam session by the Valley Jazz Voices who will be in concert with Karrin Allyson on Sunday, May 6th at the Unitarian Society. 

For more information about Valley Gives Day, please see an attached letter from our board of directors and if you care to give now, you can go to: https://www.valley-gives.org/organizations/northampton-jazz-festival

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