FARMINGTON — Old South Church Concert Series presents Maine’s Novel Jazz Septet band at 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28, at the Old South First Congregational Church.
Members of Novel Jazz Band front from left are Herb Maine (bass), Barney Balch (trombone), and Bill Manning (drums). Back from left are Nate Johengen (reeds), Mickey Felder (piano), Dave Clarke (guitar), and Mike Mitchell (trumpet). Nate Johengen photo
The seven piece Novel Jazz band will be celebrating two big anniversaries; 2024 marks the 20th anniversary of the Novel Jazz Septet, performing in the New England jazz scene. Moreover, 2024 marks 125 years since Duke Ellington’s birth. So, there are lots of reasons to celebrate the Duke’s music this year.
The mission of the Novel Jazz Septet is to share the music and stories of jazz icons, Duke Ellington, his sidekick, Billy Strayhorn, as well as other notable members of his illustrious orchestra. Between them, Duke and Strays wrote several thousand compositions over their musical careers, two percent of which represent the well-known standards and 98% of which represent rarely heard gems. The septet will perform standard tunes from the Ellington/Strayhorn repertoire plus newly arranged compositions that they have unearthed from original recordings, as well as manuscripts from the Ellington Archives of the Smithsonian Museum of American History and the Strayhorn Collection at the Library of Congress, both in Washington D.C.
Novel Jazz members have dusted these pieces off, rearranged them for the septet, and given them a 21st century sound, all their own.
The Concert Series is seeking sponsorship to cover the cost of sound and lights for the Novel Jazz Septet performance. Call Debbie at 207-491-5919 if interested in finding out more about concert sponsorships.
Tickets cost $25 for adults and $20 for students 12 and older and college students with current ID. Tickets can be purchased online at farmingtonucc.org/events, or reserved by calling 207-491-5919, or at the door as space allows.
For more information about the band, visit mainejazz.net.
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