About this Event
Saxophonist Jim Pisano reunites with longtime bandmates Mark Shilansky (piano), Phil McGowan (drums), and Greg Loughman (bass), in conversation with The Dance Hall's Artistic Director and multiple woodwind master Eric Klaxton, and special guest New Hampshire native, UNH alum, and NYC denizen Bill Humphrey (alto sax).
Inspired by the American Songbook, Be-Bop, Post-Bop, and Modern Standards, the band will shape an evening of music that showcases their shared interests and shines a light on their individual voices.
$20 advance | $25 day-of | $12 student
*fees not included ($3 facility fee per ticket + cc processing fees)
"Inventive, modern mainstream jazz pianist” (Jon Garelick, Boston Globe) Mark Shilansky provides melodic improvisation and infectious compositions on his own and to a host of jazz luminaries, as well as to the classroom, as a professor at Berklee College of Music and the University of New Hampshire. Shilansky’s six recordings as a leader include 2007’s “Join the Club,” a mostly Latin Jazz affair featuring David Bowie saxist Donny McCaslin, and 2013’s “Fugue Mill,” the eponymous debut of his Jazz/Bluegrass/Celtic project featuring violin phenom Sara Caswell, and he is featured on over 60 recordings as a keyboardist, vocalist, composer/arranger, or producer, and in performance as band member for such artists as the New York Voices, Luciana Souza, and David Thorne Scott. As an artist he embraces the history of the styles in which he works, while seeking connections between them as a way of expressing a personal musical vision, characterized by lush harmonies, the exploration of the line between composition and improvisation, and an ever-present sense of humor. http://www.markshilansky.com
Multi-woodwind specialist Jim Pisano’s numerous invitations as a performer and teacher have taken him across the United States, as well as Europe and South Africa. Pisano has shared the stage as a soloist with many jazz luminaries, such as Phil Woods, Frank Foster, Louie Bellson, Clark Terry, Harry “Sweets” Edison, James Moody, Hank Jones, Randy Brecker, Terrell Stafford, The Lionel Hampton Big Band, The Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, The Artie Shaw Band, The Cab Calloway Orchestra, and the Dizzy Gillespie Reunion Big Band, among many others. Currently, Pisano maintains an active performance schedule — he recently formed an organ jazz group called Organique (saxophone, Hammond organ, guitar, and drums) that is dedicated to performing, composing, and recording works for this instrumentation.
We are especially excited to have as our most special guest Dover, NH’s own, by way of Queens, NY, Mr. William “Bill” Humphrey (alto saxophone). Bill’s studies with Dave Seiler and Charlie Jennison at UNH and dozens of performances with jazz legends Clark Terry led him to grad work with Jimmy Heath at Queens College, and a creative career with his own William Humphrey Quartet, along with the group miXed Company, dedicated to gospel-infused soul jazz and which he co-leads with his wife, soprano Jessica Rechner.
Eric Klaxton is a multi-instrumentalist and composer residing in Southern Maine. Eric has extensive experience as an educator and currently serves as the Artistic Director for The Dance Hall- a non-profit performing arts venue in Kittery, ME. He maintains a private studio of saxophone, piano and clarinet students and offers workshops and lectures ranging in topic from New Orleans Music to Minimalism and Electronic Music. Eric is a founding member of The Soggy Po Boys, a group known for their personal and exciting presentation of the music of New Orleans. In addition to his work with various collective ensembles, Klaxton writes and arranges original works for various groups of his own, imbued with traditions from jazz, rock, folk, and electronic music. When he isn’t performing or teaching, Klaxton is an active producer and studio engineer.
Phil McGowan has been performing throughout the New England area and has been enjoying an active career as a drummer, performing at concert halls, clubs, music festivals and cruise ships which ventured into Europe, Africa and Asia, and has shared the stage with many inspiring artists, including Judy Collins, American Idol Finalists John Stevens and Siobhan Magnus, The Portland Symphony Orchestra, Billy Pierce, Herb Pomeroy, and many others. Currently, Phil is maintaining an active schedule as a drummer and music educator, and can be seen performing throughout the Greater Boston area.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
The Dance Hall, 7 Walker Street, Kittery, United States
USD 17.19 to USD 30.99
