Curated by musician and educator Michael Junkins, this special jazz event explores the creative pulse behind the music. A performance by jazz innovator Peggy Stern will be interwoven with storytelling and conversation that journeys into the mind of the artist, highlighting the creative process—from inspiration to improvisation. Peggy will be joined on stage by Alex Coke, saxophone.
IMPORTANT EVENT INFORMATION:
- This special performance and talkback takes place in The Mount’s Stable Auditorium, a 140-seat, climate-controlled, indoor venue adjacent to the parking lot.
- Seating for all programs at The Mount is first-come, first-served. If you have seating preferences, we recommend arriving fifteen minutes early.
- A cash bar will be open 30 minutes before the performance begins.
- Accessible seating is available. To discuss arrangements, please contact us by phone: 413-551-5111 x5; or email: programs@edithwharton.org. For more information about accessibility, review The Mount’s accessibility webpage.
- Questions? Email: programs@edithwharton.org; or phone: 413-551-5111 x2
Peggy Stern stands among the distinguished musicians who have shaped America’s great jazz traditions. As a pianist, composer, and bandleader, she has built an accomplished career, recording 15 albums as a leader—including two co-led with legendary alto saxophonist Lee Konitz—and touring internationally. Stern has also accompanied major artists such as Gerry Mulligan, Diane Schuur, and David “Fathead” Newman. Beyond performance, she has championed women bandleaders by founding two long-running festivals—Wall Street Jazz Festival and LuluFest—devoted exclusively to their work. Based in Austin and Pittsfield, she’s vigorously continuing to perform and compose, most recently leading her quintet through a set of new tunes in preparation for a recording. Stern’s career reflects a lifelong pursuit of creative freedom on her own terms, and her generous, mentoring presence continues to inspire fellow musicians and students alike. Watch for LuluFest coming to Lenox this September!
Alex Coke is a tenor saxophonist, flutist, and composer based in Austin and Amsterdam. An improviser at heart, Coke has led an eclectic range of projects, including Live Action Brass Band, Leadbelly Legacy Band, New Texas Swing, a jazz adaptation of A Child’s Christmas in Wales, and Worthy Constituents with pianist Rich Harney. Since 2022 he has co-led the Alex Coke & Carl Michel Sextet. He has collaborated widely with visual artists, dancers, poets, and ensembles across the U.S., Europe, and West Africa, including the Creative Opportunity Orchestra, Willem Breuker Kollektief, and many others. A 2020 Austin Jazz Society Hall of Fame inductee, Coke’s recording and performance credits are extensive and internationally acclaimed.
