Peter West has been playing guitar professionally since 1980 and takes his audiences on a melodious and stimulating turn through instrumental jazz, pop, and original songs. He has been giving wonderful performances at the museum's “A Perfect Spot of Tea” for over a decade. At his side is Bert Jackson, another highly skilled guitarist with over 25 years of playing experience in blues, jazz, and other styles.

Robert Markey studied classical and blues guitar and then sitar in Boston and in India. His music is based in the North Indian (Hindustani) music tradition. Robert plays a mix of ragas from North and South India and raga-like improvisations from Persia, Japan, Hungary and Indonesia. Andrew Jenkins is a twelve-string guitarist who studied at Boston’s Berklee College of Music, and has been has been playing music for 38 years.

To visit the Robert Markey's website: Click Here

Guitarist Dennis Shapson, harmonica player Jon Lawless, and Alan Kurtz on washboard and bones perform ragtime country blues. Their repertoire consists of 1920’s and 30’s Piedmont and East Coast blues, and features reinterpretations of compositions by Blind Blake, Blind Boy Fuller, Mississippi John Hurt, and Mance Lipscomb.

Honest Harmony has been performing together for over a decade. The group’s a cappella performances explore a repertoire of small-ensemble singing from the 12th-20th centuries, often highlighting historical pieces and masterfully juxtaposing works of a single style, era, or composer. Their music brings audiences on “a musical journey through the last millennium.” The ensemble is comprised of soprano Barbara Matthews, alto Cindy Naughton, baritone Ijod Schroeder, and tenor John Vance.

The Other Cat's Pajamas play the soundtracks for imaginary black and white movies with subtitles, a collection of vintage swing and other dance music from Europe and the Americas. These include Gypsy jazz and waltzes from France, choros from Brazil, and tangos from Argentina. The trio includes Gus Hollingsworth on accordion, Jimmy Burgoff on left-handed 5-string double bass, and Alan Kurtz on a collection of percussion instruments.

The trio is composed of Ron Freshley on alto and tenor saxes, Lynn Lovell on bass, and Karl Rausch on guitar. They've been playing classic jazz for about seven years. They perform many original tunes by Ron and Karl, Bossa Novas, pop tunes of the 1970s  and jazz standards by music greats like Duke Ellington, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, and many others.

A. Burris Jenkins will return to the museum to perform original jazz adaptions of Bach, several other original jazz pieces, as well as "modal meditations" suited to the atmosphere of the museum. A. Burris Jenkins is a longtime Pioneer Valley resident. Originally from the New York area, Jenkins studied music and guitar at Berklee College in the 1980’s. Since relocating to Northampton, Jenkins has become a regular performer in the area. He hosts an open mic night at Sam’s Pizza in Northampton on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month, where local performers are given an opportunity to show their skill. Burris also hosts and produces the local TV access show Thoughts and Sounds from New England.

Earlier this summer,  Jenkins was joined by Robert Markey to perform at the Museum as “56 String Duo”