Sarah Jane Cion ’90 Releases New Memoir, The Now Era
Jazz pianist and composer Sarah Jane Cion ’90 has released her new memoir, The Now Era: Improvisations on Presence, Rhythm, and the Art of Being Human. The book blends stories from her life as a performer and educator with reflections on improvisation, creativity, and the lessons that shaped her during her time at NEC.
Cion, who graduated with honors and distinction, is a 1st Place Winner of the Great American Jazz Piano Competition, judged by jazz legends including Horace Silver, Ellis Marsalis, and Kenny Barron. She has performed internationally, from the Fukuoka Blue Note in Japan to NPR’s Piano Jazz with Marian McPartland, and her compositions have been featured in films such as Warner Bros.’ The Mule and Marvel’s Thor: The Dark World.
Throughout her career, she has collaborated with iconic artists including Clark Terry, Etta Jones, Bucky Pizzarelli, and Don Braden. Cion remains active in New York City’s jazz scene, performing regularly with the Lew Anderson Big Band at Birdland and touring with author and saxophonist James McBride.
Her acclaimed recordings include Indeed!, Moon Song (which became the 4th best-selling Modern Jazz album in Japan), and Summer Night, featuring Michael Brecker. Cion has appeared at major festivals including the JVC Jazz Festival, the Kennedy Center’s Women in Jazz Festival, and the Freihofer’s Jazz Festival, and has toured throughout Europe, Israel, and Japan.
A dedicated educator, Cion has written for Piano Today magazine, authored Modern Jazz Piano (Hal Leonard), and contributed to the Steinway Library of Piano Music. Her works have also been featured on All My Children, and her holiday song “It’s Christmas Time, Once Again” was a finalist in the 1997 John Lennon Songwriting Contest.
With The Now Era, Cion offers a thoughtful, personal exploration of music, presence, and the art of being human, rooted in the improvisational spirit she first nurtured at NEC.
