TRIBUTARIES Album Release Concert to Celebrate New England Jazz Collaborative Debut
Composers Jeremy Cohen, Darryl Harper, Matan Rubinstein and Sam Spear contributed works to the big band recording.
The New England Jazz Collaborative (NEJC) will celebrate the release of its debut album, Tributaries, with a special album release concert on Thursday, September 17, at Arrow Street Arts in Cambridge.
The performance will feature selections from the new recording alongside additional works by NEJC composers, showcasing the artist-led organization's commitment to expanding the repertoire for contemporary jazz orchestra.
Released on July 17, 2026, through Amherst College's ACP Records, Tributaries presents six original compositions by four members of the collaborative: founder Jeremy Cohen, Darryl Harper, Matan Rubinstein, and Sam Spear. Available on limited-edition vinyl, CD, and digital platforms, the album reflects the diverse musical voices within the ensemble, drawing inspiration from New Orleans swing, elegant balladry, Third Stream composition, West African highlife, funk, and contemporary jazz.
Founded by composer and percussionist Jeremy Cohen, the New England Jazz Collaborative was created to address a common challenge facing composers: finding opportunities for ambitious large-ensemble works to be professionally performed and recorded. Rather than centering on a single artistic voice, NEJC functions as an artist-run nonprofit dedicated to commissioning, performing, and documenting new music by a broad community of living composers.
Since its formation less than five years ago, the organization has commissioned more than 30 new works for jazz orchestra while paying more than $100,000 to musicians and creative artists throughout the region. Its collaborative model has also inspired additional composer-led big bands, helping foster a thriving ecosystem for contemporary jazz composition in New England.
"The variety is what makes NEJC's approach to programming both contemporary and accessible," says founder Jeremy Cohen. "I've witnessed it first-hand in our concerts: between the different colors, the dynamic range of the orchestra, and how that was put to use by all the different composers, even audiences who are unfamiliar with jazz find something on the program that captivates them."
The collaborative brings together an accomplished roster of musicians from across Greater Boston, including Grammy Award-winning trumpeter Bijon Watson, saxophonists Allan Chase and Brian Landrus, guitarist Eric Hofbauer, saxophonist Temidayo Balogun, pianist Ellie Pruneau, and many others. The ensemble performs under the direction of composer, conductor, and educator Ken Schaphorst.
The album's six compositions illustrate the breadth of the collaborative's artistic vision. Jeremy Cohen contributes the opening "Another Brighter Day," an expansive work balancing lush harmonies with melodic accessibility, and the closing "Green Turtle Strut," inspired by the rhythmic traditions of Ghana's guitar-driven highlife music.
Matan Rubinstein's "Ol' Liminal" combines the collective improvisation of early New Orleans jazz with influences drawn from rock, electronic music, and hip-hop. Darryl Harper contributes two contrasting works: the lyrical ballad "Kiss Me Again" and the rhythmically adventurous funk composition "The Secret." Sam Spear's "Gee, Em..." draws inspiration from Third Stream pioneer Gunther Schuller and Duke Ellington, blending classical and jazz traditions into a richly textured composition.
According to Cohen, the album's title reflects both the varied artistic influences flowing through the ensemble and the rich musical traditions that continue to shape New England's jazz community.
"The composers' breadth gives the album an element of surprise and a genuine something-for-everyone quality, while still holding together as a cohesive artistic statement," Cohen says. "It reflects a contemporary musical reality in which artists and listeners move fluidly across styles and traditions."
The September 17 concert begins with a pre-show reception at 6:00 p.m. featuring live music, complimentary hors d'oeuvres, and a cash bar before the 7:30 p.m. performance. Admission is offered on a pay-what-you-can basis, with a suggested donation of $15.
NEJC's work has been featured by The Boston Globe, Boston Magazine, WBUR's Morning Edition, and NPR's All Things Considered. The organization has received support from the National Park Service, Eastern Bank, Cambridge Community Foundation, and the Massachusetts Cultural Council while partnering with venues throughout New England.
Performance Information
New England Jazz Collaborative: Tributaries Album Release Concert
Date: Thursday, September 17, 2026
Pre-show Reception: 6:00 p.m.
Concert: 7:30 p.m.
Venue: Arrow Street Arts
2 Arrow Street
Cambridge, MA
Admission: Pay What You Can (Suggested Donation: $15)
About Tributaries
Released July 17, 2026, Tributaries features six original works by Jeremy Cohen, Darryl Harper, Matan Rubinstein, and Sam Spear. The album is available on limited-edition LP, CD, and digital download through ACP Records.
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