Summer is saying goodbye slowly this year with a steamy burst. It’s downright tropical up here in southern Maine. We’re very thankful to have lots of cool water nearby for cooling our jets. I just finished a week up at New England Music Camp on Lake Messalonskee with the New Horizons at NEMC program. What a blast! Great vibes, super people, incredible weather and good times. Pam and I took off after that and went to Jim & Mary’s wedding – a blast! – and then up to the mountains for a couple days in the Eurovan. On the way back we caught up with pals david Tonkin, Tim Gilmore and Don Williams at the Barley House for some great music, food and tomfoolery.
Now comes the Fall! There were signs of it all over the place in the mountains yet the air was warm and the streams were not too freezing for swimming and lying around on the rocks. Upon arrival at home it’s time for me to get to work on the coming teaching season. I’ve gotten a lot of great ideas over the summer and I’mm eager to unleash some of them on my students and ensembles. There are some good gigs coming up too and here’s a short rundown. Thanks for stopping by and supporting live music, art, theater, dance, etc. See you soon I hope!
Friday, September 5th – SHANGO! 6PM Portsmouth Music and Arts Center, 973 Islington St, Portsmouth, NH – Celebrate Back-to-school season with an afrobeat DANCE PARTY! Jonny Peiffer’s Shango is a rocking tribute to Fela Kuti with dancers, a large horn section, a huge, cranking rhythm section and Jonny Peiffer up front making the whole thing happen. Or, Jonny of the drums driving the bus! It’s a blast and tonight we get to dance it up in the Haas Hall at PMAC. Come on out and DANCE!
Saturday, September 6th – Jennifer Porter in Concert – 7:30PM Saco River Theater, 29 Salmon Falls Rd., Bar Mills, Maine – Following the success of her benefit CD, The Way You Look Tonight, which received airplay on Jazz radio stations across the country, on Sirius XM, and on every continent except Antarctica, this amazingly versatile musician once again brings to the SRT stage an array of songs from across the musical spectrum. This concert will celebrate the release of Jennifer’s new CD, Easy Living, which features a dozen Jazz classics from the 20s, 30s and 40s. The CD will be exclusively available at this event weeks before its national release! Jennifer will be joined by the incomparable Sonny Barbato on piano, with regional luminaries Jim Lyden (bass) Les Harris, Jr. (drums) Matt Langely (saxophones) Trent Austin (trumpets) Jason Anick (violin) and others! From Jazz to Blues to Country to Opera, Jennifer always entertains, thrills and inspires.
Friday, September 12th – Mother Superior & the Sliding Royales – The Press Room, 77 Daniels St, Portsmouth, NH – MoSup is a powerful soul band fronted by Taylor O’Donnell with Stu Dias on guitar and background vocals, Mike Effenberger at the keys, Mike Walsh laying down the groove, Zach Lange and Matt Langley on horns and Greg Glasson thumpin on the mighty bass. The band writes simple, powerful tunes that make you want to dance and sing along. Tonight they’ll share the stage with Gretchen and the Pickpockets for a great night of dance music at the best live music venue in the Northeast!
COMING UP: Friday September 26th at the Dance Hall in Kittery, Maine; Chris Klaxton’s OURBIGBAND featuring the music of and a guest appearance by Kendall Moore on trombone. Checkout Kendall’s site for information about this talented performer. Gte your tickets early for this one!
Thanks for stopping by and for supporting live music, art, dance and theater. See you soon!
