Author: mattlang

The snowfall this year has been voluminous! We’re keep getting whacked with massive snowstorms in the Northeast and I can’t remember the last time the snow banks were this high! It’s rather relentless and I’ve pretty much had my fill but I’ve also gotta say this it’s incredibly beautiful when the snow is new and untouched. It gets very quiet and still and it’s really special. Pam and I have been walking in the woods out behind our house and it has been really nice. I also have to say that I LOVE it when the wind is howling and it’s snowing sideways outside. I even LIKE to drive in it! No kidding, I’m that much of a freak! Yesterday there was another storm that dumped over a foot of snow in the ELiot area and I had to commute from Concord, NH back to Maine and I had a great time dodging plow trucks and trying to keep the Volksie on the road. I’m ready for it to end for sure but might as well enjoy it while it lasts. If it’s going to be winter we might as well be buried!
I could stand to be a little more buried with gigs but there are some fun ones coming up that you might enjoy:
Sunday, 2/23, 7-10PM – Campfire Tales – Sonny’s, Dover, NH – This is a new quartet put together for this gig. I’ve been playing music with David Tonkin on and off for 35 years now and it never gets old! We’ll be joined by Rob Gerry on Bass and Frank Laurino on drums. Why Campfire Tales? Why not! Come feel the warmth at Sonny’s (formerly the old Barley Pub)
Monday, 2/24, 8-11PM – Tim Webb Trio – The Press Room – Bassist Tim Webb hold down the fort at the Press Room Monday Jazz Grill with Ken Clark on drums and myself on saxes. We’ll probe the depths of Tim’s tune pile, I’ll call a few and maybe we can even get Mr. Clark to call a tune or two or three. Please join us for a fun night of jazz!
Thursday, 2/27, 8-11PM – Julie Thompson Trio – Ginko Blue, Portland, ME – Julie Thompson pays a visit from Wisconsin to her old home state of Maine to sing at Portland’s Ginko Blue with Flash Allen on Guitar and myself on Saxes. Julie’s a great singer that I think you’ll really enjoy so come on out!
Friday, 2/28, 7:30-10PM – Aporkalypse Now: Ellington – The Kittery Dance Hall, Kittery, ME – This is going to be very special night. Aporkalypse Now is Jonny Peiffer on Drums, Chris Klaxton & Zach Lange on Trumpets, Eric Klaxton, Nick Mainella and Myself on saxes, Chris Carlone on Trombone, Mike Effenberger on Keys and Nate Therrien on Bass with special guest Taylor O’Donnell on vocals. Every member of the band arranged an Ellington tune or two especially for this show. This may well be the only performance of this music so please grab a ticket and join us!
Monday, 3/3 – 6-10PM – David Tonkin Group – The Barley House, Concord, NH – Whoa, David is headed to Puerto Rico for his birthday so we’ll be holding down the gig with Randy Roos on Guitar, Tim Gilmore on Drums, Don Williams on bas and myself on saxes. This is always a fun gig and the Barley House is a great restaurant with a fine selection of beers. We’ll miss David but we’ll take care of having a good time on this night. We’ll have EXTRA fun if you’re there!
Friday 3/7 – 11PM – Mother Superior and the Sliding Royals – Fury’s Publik House – Dover, NH – A Brand new band featuring Stu Dias on Vocals & Guitar, Taylor O’Donnell on Vocals, Mike Effenberger on Keys, Greg Glasson on Bass, Mike Walsh on Drums and Zach Lange, Chris Carlone and Myself on Horns doing a set of mostly original R&B. Smoking band rolling it out for the first of hopefully many shows. DON’T MISS IT!
That’ll do it for now. Please be careful out here in the snowbanks and slushy byways of the Northeast and we especially appreciate your efforts to get out and support live entertainment in these waning weeks of winter. Let’s send it off with a BANG!

Happy New Year y’all! Hope the days ahead are loaded with inspiration with out too much perspiration involved. Pam and I disappeared for the holidays in the newly long-haul christened party bus. Clear down to North Carolina did we trek in search of…… NOTHING! And, guess w’happened??! WE FOUND IT! I’m working on a photo gallery but in the meantime, < this will have to do!
NOW, back to the business of making music, teaching music and staying inspired by all the amazing people around us doing the same thing and keeping the air moving with positive vibrations. Here are a few shows coming up. Some wonderful music and some good causes too! If you can’t make it out to one of these, get out and see anyone you can, we ALL APPRECIATE your interest and support!
Sunday, January 12th – 2nd Christian Congregational Church Jazz Service – 2CCUCC Kittery – 10AM – C’mon, don’t let the J word scare you! This Church is GREAT! Pastor Brad Hirst is the hippest preacher around and how can you go wrong with Mike Effenberger as the music director with Jim Rudolf and myself accompanying the 2CCUCC choir!? This week’s featured Jazz Composer is Cedar Walton. C’mon in and feel the LOVE!
Sunday, January 19th – Martin Luther King Concert to Benefit the Seacoast Family Food Pantry – Middle Street Baptist Church, Portsmouth, NH – 6PM – This is ALWAYS a fun time with some great musicians for a GREAT cause; the Food Bank. Join Master of Ceremony Kelvin Edwards, Sandpipers under the musical direction of Tamara Rozek , Youth Jazz Ensemble PMAC under the direction of Matt Langley, Lillian Buckley, Kent Allyn, Matt Langley, Bob McCarthy, Courtney Holloway and the Voices of New Hope, TJ Wheeler, John Marshall, Lisa Marshall, and Cynthia Chatis.
Tuesday January 21st – Jazz Dept. Student Recital at Concord Community Music School – Wall St, Concord NH – 7PM – CCMS is one of my favorite places in my relatively small sphere of existence. On the night of the Jazz Dpt. student recital you get to hear all the great students, some of their teachers and who knows who else. It’s always inspiring so if you’re in the area, come on in and, if your not, get on over to the Concord Community Music School!
Wednesday, January 22nd – MMF’S – The Press Room, 77 Daniel St Portsmouth, NH – 8PM – A rollicking night at the Press Room will be had by all at the hands of Frank Laurino, Mike Effenberger, Steve Roy and Myself while we wander through a collection of music from Hank Mobley to Led Zeppelin with some side journeys to the Police and Stevie Wonder. Come on in and take the trip with us!
Friday, January 24th – CCMS Faculty Jazz Recital – Concord Community Music School – 7 & 9PM – WAHOOOO! The CCMS Faculty rectial. When I get to play with all the great Jazz Faculty at CCMS in front of a wonderful crowd in the community room at CCMS. Join David Tonkin, John Faggiano, Tom Robinson, Richard Gardzina, Tim Gimore, Don Williams and myself. We have a great set of music prepared for you. Get your Tix early because this one sells out quickly!
Sunday, January 26th – JOSA with Vocalist/Trumpeter Christine Fawson – Eastman, Grantham, NH – 4PM – Bill Wightman’s Jazz on a Sunday Afternoon series is in it’s 23rd year and the reason is Bill’s persistent booking of wonderful talent. Christine Fawson is just such an internationally renowned talent and you really shouldn’t miss a chance to hear her perform. Tickets available here: JOSA.com