Jay Collins and Northern Resistance

Vocalist, saxophonist, song-writer, arranger, and multi-instrumentalist Jay Collins and his power-house group, Northern Resistance, will be performing material from their new album, “Northern Resistance”, plus some choice cover songs in their own style.

Known in up-state NY for their tight arrangements, memorable songs, and over-all exemplary musicianship, Jay and his band bring a mix of high energy Blues-Rock with just enough Jazz influence to keep things interesting.

The new album will be available at the show.

• $15 cover
• (518) 882-6962 for reservations

ABOUT JAY COLLINS

Jay Collins is the saxophone player of choice for famous artists such as Gregg Allman, Little Feat, Levon Helm, The Midnight Ramble Band, and Donald Fagen. He is also a dynamic singer, arranger, writer, and band leader.

Jay played on two Grammy-winning recordings with Levon Helm (Electric Dirt [2009] and Ramble at the Ryman [2011]), a platinum-selling DVD with the Allman Brothers Band (Live at the Beacon Theater [2003]), and was featured on horns and arrangements for two recordings with Gregg Allman (Gregg Allman Live: Back to Macon, GA [2015] and Southern Blood [2017]).

Whether fronting his own bands, The Northern Resistance and Gravy Train, on lead vocals and sax, blowing his horn at Levon Helm Studios in Woodstock, NY with the Midnight Ramble Band, or touring with the legendary group, Little Feat, Jay Collins always delivers!

In an era when many were taught to play music in a school, Jay is one of those rare musicians who cut his chops the old-fashioned way—on the bandstand. Although recognized as a horn player and arranger, Jay’s singing and songwriting have both thrilled and captivated audiences and music lovers, alike. His granite pipes prompted Time Out New York to note that, “Collin’s soulful croak definitely deserves to be heard!” while Blues Revue raves, “Jay Collins plays a hot saxophone, but he covers a lot more ground than that…” Hittin’ the Note magazine stated, “Rivers, Blues, and Other People makes a resounding case for Collins the singer, songwriter, and bandleader.”

Jay cut his teeth as a teenager in Portland, Oregon in the late 80s and early 90s on gigs with luminaries of Portland’s burgeoning jazz scene, before making the move to New York City and quickly becoming a force in his own right. His focus was hard-hitting instrumental jazz, as proven on his first three albums as a leader—Uncommon Threads (Reservoir Music), Reality Tonic (Reservoir Music), and Cross Culture (Blues Leaf). Jay continued to evolve as an artist, gaining diversified experience as a sideman with some of New York City’s best jazzmen, including pianists Andrew Hill and Jacky Terrasson, as well as Afro-Cuban drummer and clinician Bobby Sanabria, among many others.

Jay also played blues gigs at clubs up and down famed Bleecker Street in the West Village and Latin and funk gigs in the bars of the Lower East Side. On occasion, he’s even been known to busk with street bands! “This robust tenor saxophonist is a great example of a player whose varied experiences nurture a deeper musical personality.” — Village Voice, NYC

While remaining dedicated to playing his horns, Jay began to branch out into songwriting and singing. A touring gig starting in 2001 with Gregg Allman helped convince Jay to develop his singing voice further by embracing blues-based rock. It was during this time he solidified his first real group, Jay Collins and the Kings County Band, performing his original material and playing saxophone, flute, and keyboard.

In 2004, Jay met vocalist Amy Helm and soon began regularly performing with her father, Levon Helm, at the Midnight Ramble Sessions in Woodstock, NY. After relocating to Woodstock in 2006, Jay earned a spot as one of the horn arrangers and soloists in Levon’s respected group, playing and touring until 2012. Jay met Donald Fagen in 2007 in Woodstock, and in 2010 began playing saxophone in a supergroup Mr. Fagen put together called The Dukes of September, which featured members of the Steely Dan band as well as Michael McDonald and Boz Scaggs.

In 2010 (released in 2012), Jay recorded an album called Blues, Rivers, and Other People at Levon Helm Studios with his Kings County Band, which featured Levon Helm on drums, Donald Fagen on piano, Scott Sharrard on guitar, Larry Campbell on mandolin, and Bruce Katz on piano, among many others. “This record is a minor masterpiece, showing the best of what Woodstock is about in 2012… a master player, Collins makes music that has a latent Lowell George vibe…” — Daily Freeman (Kingston, NY)

The years from 2012–2016 were spent touring extensively with the Gregg Allman Band and digging deeper into the craft of songwriting. During this time, Jay consolidated a new band comprised of the finest young rock ’n’ roll players in New York’s Hudson Valley—Jay Collins and the Northern Resistance. Their release, The John Brown EP, came out in the fall of 2016 and was recorded direct to tape at Waterfront Studios in Hudson, NY, with contributions from Scott Sharrard and Connor Kennedy.

Around 2018, Jay, along with the Midnight Ramble Horns, began touring and performing regularly with Little Feat, joining their 50th Anniversary Tour in 2019 and the Waiting for Columbus Tour in 2022.

In the fall of 2024, Jay recorded an album with current Northern Resistance band members Peter Dougan, Ross Rice, Manuel Quintana, Kyle Esposito, and Carlos Valdez. Coproduced by and recorded in drummer Quintana’s studio, the eponymous Northern Resistance was released in the fall of 2025.

Jay continues playing with the Midnight Ramble Band, Amy Helm, and many other musicians who might show up at the Helm Family Midnight Rambles at Levon Helm Studios. He regularly performs live with The Northern Resistance and his jazz ensemble Gravy Train, and remains busy in the studio recording new material and contributing session work.