Novel Jazz Septet Concerts, 2017 "Duke & Swee'Pea- Love You Madly"
This year's program covers new tunes from the Ellington Band between the 1920's to the 1960's, with classic jazz compositions from these iconic composers, both standards and lesser-known gems. We have tunes lined-up that were written to feature many of the instrumental voices of the Ellington orchestra. The instrumental configuration of the Novel Jazz septet (three horns with a four piece rhythm section) was Ellington's favorite small band combination for those times when he wasn't composing for the 18 piece orchestra. Terry Teachout remarked in his brilliant biography of Duke1, "Unlike many artists who won fame during their lifetimes, Ellington underwent no posthumous decline in his reputation. He is universally acknowledged as the greatest composer in the history of jazz and, increasingly, as one of the greatest of any kind in the history of American music, as well as a peerlessly creative big-band orchestrator, a pianist of formidible originality, and an enduring exemplar of black accomplishment and pride." Strayhorn's talents were equally laudible. As the author, David Hajdu, put it in his book, Lushlife2, “Billy Strayhorn was one of the greatest composers in the
history of American music, the creator of a body of work that includes such standards
as “Take the ‘A’ Train”. Yet all his life Strayhorn was overshadowed by his
friend and collaborator Duke Ellington, with whom he worked for three decades
as the Ellington Orchestra’s ace songwriter.” Our 2017 Ellington & Strayhorn shows will highlight each composer, together and separately. We look forward to seeing you at our shows! (Always contact venues in advance to confirm times, directions, ticket details, etc.). 1 Teachout, Terry. 2013. Duke- A life of Duke Ellington. Gotham Books, New York. 483pp. 2 Hajdu, David. 1996. Lush Life- A biography of Billy Strayhorn. North Point Press, New York. 308pp. (Note, we are still building our 2017 schedule ...more dates may appear!)
Novel Jazz Septet Dates for 2017 Date Where Time Thursday 26 Jan Skidompha Public Library, Damariscotta* 7PM Thursday 23 March Skidompha Public Library, Damariscotta* 7PM Thursday 25 May Skidompha Public Library, Damariscotta* 7PM Thursday 6 July Harpswell Band Stand** 6PM Thursday 13 July Skidompha Public Library, Damariscotta* 7PM Saturday 22 July Chebeague Island; Methodist Church** 7PM Thursday 17 Aug Camden Lib. Amphitheater** 7PM Wednesday 23 Aug Congress Square, Portland** 6PM Saturday 2 Sept Saco River Theater** 7PM Saturday 9 Sept Vassalboro Grange** 7PM Fri. 22 Sept Phippsburg Congregational Church** 7:30PM Thurs 28 Sept Skidompha Public Library, Damariscotta* 7PM Sun, 29 Oct Jewett Hall, U. Maine Augusta ** 2PM Sat, 11 Nov. Frontier Café, Brunswick** 8PM Thurs 16 Nov Skidompha Public Library, Damariscotta* 7PM Sat 13 January, 2018 Universalist Unitarian Church, Brunswick
** 7:30PM
Barney and Friends Dates for 2017 Date Where Time Fri, 24 March Solo Bistro (with Geoff Ives, piano)* 6:30PM Saturday, 24 June With Pete Collins (private party) Sunday, 25 June Boothbay Harbor Congregational Church* 4:30PM w/ Molly Pitcher, Allan Millet, SeanFleming, Chuck McGregor Sunday, 23 July Lincoln
Arts Jazz Service, Boothbay* 10AM Congregational;Church
(w/ Mickey Felder, Thursday, 3 August Maine Public Radio event, Hannaford Hall, 5PM Univ. S. Maine * Saturday, 5 August 10th Annual Dam Blues Festival with Bob 3PM Page and the Jazz Babies; Duck Puddle Campground, Nobleboro Sunday, 6 August Coveside Restaurant, South Bristol, with 2PM Bob Page and the Jazz Babies
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