Novel Jazz Septet will celebrate Duke Ellington at 7 p.m. on Saturday, April 29, at St. Lawrence Arts in Portland. Submitted photo by Michael Mitchell
Novel Jazz Septet will celebrate Duke Ellington at 7 p.m. on Saturday, April 29, at St. Lawrence Arts in Portland. The American pianist, the greatest jazz composer and bandleader of his time and one of the originators of big-band jazz, led his band for more than half a century, composed thousands of scores, and created one of the most distinctive ensembles sounds in all of Western music.
The musicians of “Novel Jazz” have been performing straight-ahead jazz around Maine and New England for over three decades. They draw from the Great American Songbook and specialize in the works of Edward Kennedy (“Duke”) Ellington and Billy Strayhorn. The band members hail from all over Maine – including Belfast, Buxton, Chebeague Island, Gardiner, Newcastle, Vassleboro and Westbrook. Fifteen years ago, they embarked on a project to go through the massive archive of compositions by Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn — who wrote about 2,500 pieces between them — transcribe some lesser known gems for the band and reinterpret them with a 21st century sound.
Novel Jazz are Barney Balch (tenor, alto and soprano trombone), Bill Manning (drums), Herb Maine (bass), David Clarke (guitar), Mickey Felder (piano), Mike Mitchell (trumpet, cornet, flugelhorn), and David Harris (reeds).
“These are all seasoned jazz guys, and the result is a sound that made me sway, smile, groove, slow-dance with myself around the living room and play the air snare drums. Note to self: Bring this disc to work and impress jazz-appreciating boss,” says Aimsel Ponti, Portland Press Herald music writer.
Tickets are $25 advance/$30 at the door. For more information, visit stlawrencearts.org.
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