Coming Soon: Jazz Goes South
Tara Middleton
Jazz Goes South: Exploring Latin Jazz follows jazz’s journey south into Latin rhythms, where the whole body wants to move. Using vocal percussion and clave—the heartbeat rhythm at the center of Latin jazz—participants will explore the sounds that define this style, then create their own groove together. No instrument needed; just bring your voice, your hands, and a readiness to listen, move, and make some noise.
Lesson releases December 9th
About the Artist
Tara Middleton
Tara Middleton is a jazz vocalist, violinist, flutist, composer, and lyricist. Since 2012 she has served as the first female lead vocalist of the Sun Ra Arkestra in over twenty years, one of the most influential avant-garde ensembles in jazz. Her work with the Arkestra earned two Grammy nominations. She wrote the lyrics for Swirling, the album behind the first, and contributed to Lights on a Satellite, which brought the second. A master teaching artist credentialed by the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, she performs internationally and brings music into schools and community programs across Pennsylvania and beyond.
Since 1997 Leigh has been a full time working artist with her own studio and business. She does commission work, private teaching, works for galleries and or upcoming shows and indoor and outdoor murals. Locally her outdoor murals are in Pittston, Wilkes-Barre, Kingston, and Tunkhannock. Indoor murals are at Geisinger in Danville, The School of Practical Nursing in Wilkes-Barre and the Beaumont Inn in Beaumont, Pa.
She teaches all ages in her studio in Dallas, concentrating on the creative process and drawing. As a Rostered Artist of Pa she has the privilege of going into schools and working with the art teacher to do special art projects with the students. The past nine summers she has been the painting instructor for the esteemed Arts Alive program in Scranton.
Northeastern Pa is her favorite place in the whole wide world! When not painting, she loves to walk in the woods with her dog Skye. She also enjoys riding her bike, swimming in the lake, and corresponding the old fashion way : handwritten letters.