Saturday Jazz in Hamilton
Date: Saturday, January 31st, 2026
Time: 12:00 PM
Location: Arts at The Palace, 19 Utica St., Hamilton, NY 13346
Join us at Arts At The Palace for one of our most well-loved series, Saturday Jazz in Hamilton! Hosted by professional freelance percussionist Mark Shiner and Colgate Assistant Professor of Jazz Studies Brian Stark. Each month we present unique performances with featured artists.
For our January 31 performance, we’re thrilled to welcome guest artist Adam Larison, a faculty member at the University of Illinois Springfield and a longtime collaborator with Brian as a member of the Freedom Therapy Trio. They’ll be diving into some rowdy, high-energy improvised music.
Brian Stark first met guitarist Adam Larison while they were both teaching at the University of Illinois Springfield. During that time, they formed Freedom Therapy, a trio built around improvisation that led to performances at UIS, Lincoln Land Community College, and other venues, and the release of the live album At DIM Artcenter. Since then, they’ve continued to reconnect through performances and collaborations, even while living in different parts of the country.
For our January 31 Saturday Jazz, we’re excited to welcome Adam to the Palace as our featured artist. Adam is currently a full-time music faculty member at the University of Illinois Springfield, where he is cofounder and codirector of the Get Free Music Series. His performance career has taken him across the U.S. and abroad, with appearances at venues including Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, and festivals and concert series throughout the Midwest and Europe.
Adam has released multiple recordings focused on improvised and original music, including At DIM Arthouse, Fire and Flux, and Ancient Universalities. He has also completed interdisciplinary projects that bring music into dialogue with ecological and scientific research, and he has composed original music for several TED-Ed films.
Reflecting on his path as a musician, Adam describes moving from a long career centered on classical guitar toward improvisation and collaborative music-making. “I think it boils down to trouble with the idea that the best music has already been made,” he says, adding that some of his favorite musical collaborations have been with Brian “making sounds together without a plan, the only guide we have is our feeling in the moment.”
“Improvisation became a way for us to work through a demanding time,” Brian shares. “That music has kept us connected ever since, and I’m excited to bring Adam to the Palace and share that history with this community.”
We’re proud to continue bringing nationally and internationally active artists into our space here in Hamilton.
Spring Semester 2026 Saturday Jazz Dates:
⭐️January 31st, 2026 - Guest Artist Adam Larison
⭐️March 7th, 2026
⭐️April 18th, 2026