"NOVEL JAZZ" TO FEATURE ELLINGTON AND STRAYHORN WORKS AT
THE OPERA HOUSE
 IN BOOTHBAY HARBOR

Mark your calendars.  "Novel Jazz Septet", will be in concert at the Opera House in Boothbay Harbor (86 Townsend Ave.) on Saturday, 2 February 2008 at 7:30PM.  They will feature the works of Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn, two pillars of the jazz world.   They'll play some of the well-known Strayhorn and Ellington standards plus some of their lesser-known compositions, recently transcribed from original piano scores.

The musicians of this group have been playing straight-ahead jazz for audiences throughout New England (and beyond) for years, in a multitude of different venues.

Barney Balch-tenor, alto and soprano trombones
Barney has played in many bands from Maine, Massachusetts, New York, California, and Florida.  Barney began his jazz career in Boston in the mid 1970's with Craig Ball, Dave McMillan and Jimmy Mazzy, as the "Dixie Cookbook".   In 1978 he began performing with veteran stride pianist, Bob Page and the  Downeast Jazz Babies  (including blues guitarist, TJ Wheeler, and the late Dick Cash).  In 1980 Barney moved to S. California and studied with the Kansas City Blues Trombonist, Jimmy Cheatham (veteran of Duke Ellington, Lionel Hampton, and Thad Jones orchestras). He has performed with John Best (original lead trumpet with the Glenn Miller Orchestra), and Francine Reed (of the Lyle Lovett Band) along with numerous big bands.  Since returning to Maine in the mid '90's, Barney has primarily worked in two bands, the "Sheepscot Jazz and Swing Company" and the "Novel Jazz Septet". He can still be heard with Bob Page and the Jazz Babies and appears on two of Bob's CD's.   Barney's day-job is as an oceanographer at the Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences in W. Boothbay Harbor.

Herb Maine-Acoustic Bass
Herb Maine is well regarded for his solid rhythms and great creativity. He works regularly in the Augusta and Portland areas with pianists Mickey Felder, Kenny Gaspar and others.   He has performed with a number of well-known jazz greats including the late Herb Pomeroy.  Herb Maine lives on Great Chebeague Island with his wife and 2 girls and his other profession is as a systems engineer in the Portland area.  In all of his spare time, he is also a selectman of Great Chebeague Island.

Dave Clarke-guitar
David "Quick" Clarke moved to Maine with family in 1971. He took up the clarinet in the 5th grade band. However, he decided that wasn't hep enough, so he switched to guitar at age 12 while attending private school at Oak Grove-Coburn. He had his first paying gig that same year. The following year found him playing in a pit band for the musical production "Jacques Brel is alive and well and living in Paris" for the Waterville Theater Company. Quick joined the United States Air Force Band at age 17, spending his first 2 years in Biloxi, Mississippi (the birthplace of the blues). His next 18-month assignment was at Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines, touring Okinawa, Korea, Japan, Guam, and Hawaii.  He spent his last 10 months in the service gigging for Uncle Sam at Travis Air Force Base in California.  Upon returning to mid-coast Maine in 1986, he fulfilled a life-long dream and opened a music store,  "David's Music", in Belfast, and he also began giving music lessons. In 1987 he formed the rock band DC3, which won the Belfast Battle of the Bands three years in a row (they were asked not to return so other folks could get a taste of winning). Over the years, Quick played with various other bands: "Faceplant," "Tonto Lavec," "The Willy Kelly Band,"  "Hemmens," the "Bel-Isle Trio/Quintet" and "the Elevator Pilots." He currently splits his time playing with jazz groups "Bel-Isle Trio" and "Erdasa" plus swinging and jumping with "Three Button Deluxe."

Mike Mitchell-Trumpet, Cornet, Flugelhorn
Mike Mitchell has been playing jazz trumpet in Maine for nearly thirty years.  Mike studied at the University of Maine at Augusta jazz program and later in the renowned University of Miami jazz studies program.  Mike brings his love of jazz and performing together with his soulful trumpet playing plus the many jazz compositions that he contributes to the group.  Mike is the Clinical Director at Crisis and Counseling Centers in Augusta to pay the bills, and to support his love for playing jazz with friends.

Bruce Boege-Tenor and Soprano Saxophone
Bruce Boege has been playing music in mid-coast Maine for close to three decades.  He plays in several jazz groups and has performed from Hungary to Hawaii.  He also operates a recording studio "Limin Music" in Northport, Maine. He is a composer, creating soundtracks for various film and video projects as well as composing jazz pieces and other music.  He has performed with the late James Williams of the Art Blakey Jazz Messengers, Miles Evans, Mary Ann Driscoll, Francine Reed (of the Lyle Lovett band), and played and jammed  with many others including Keith Richards and  Willy Nelson.

Mark Macksoud-drums
Mark Macksoud studied percussion with the late great Tony Williams in New York City, Ed Soph in Connecticut, and Alan Dawson in Massachusetts. He earned a Bachelor of Music from the New England Conservatory in Boston in 1984.  Mark has performed and/or toured with the Eddie Madden Orchestra, Bo Winiker Orchestra, Tiger Okoshi (Mark Kleinhaut Trio), and Bobby Watson. He started his music career in Boston, has played in many states and abroad (Germany, Amsterdam, France). He currently gives private lessons at Colby College in Waterville, ME and at the Portland Conservatory of Music.

Mickey Felder-Piano
Mick Felder can't remember when he wasn't playing the piano. He studied classical piano in New York with Charles Ragusa, and jazz with Charlie Banacos and Scott Oakley.  At age fifteen, his first professional group, "The J-Five", performed jazz standards in New York's Catskill Mountains. During the late 60's he took a musical detour into folk music, playing guitar and singing in small clubs in New York. Moving to Maine in 1971, he and four other talented musicians formed the popular bluegrass band "Wild Mountain Thyme" which performed throughout the state for many years. Mick returned to jazz in the late 70's and has been performing in concerts, clubs and restaurants throughout Maine ever since.  Mick is also a trained artist and a professional sign painter. When he's not at the piano, he can be found in Gardiner, at his business, "The Sign Shop"  (www.thesignshopmaine.com) or at home with his lovely wife, Deborah.

The evening of the Novel Jazz concert, the downstairs bar at the Opera House will open at 6:30, serving both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages as well as coffee and dessert for a perfect winter warmer.

Admission will be $10 in advance, $12 at the door.  Tickets are available by visiting the box office at 86 Townsend Avenue, Boothbay Harbor, Monday-Friday between 10AM and 4PM. Tickets may also be ordered by calling the box office at 207-633-5159, or purchased on-line at www.boothbayoperahouse.org.