Novel Jazz is returning to the Skidompha Public Library in Damariscotta for an evening of jazz on Friday, Aug. 26 from 7 to 9:30 p.m.  The band’s last performance at Skidompha was in November 2019, before the pandemic. 

Novel Jazz will be presenting an evening of hot swinging jazz out of the Great American Songbook.  The musicians of this group have been playing straight-ahead jazz for audiences throughout Maine (and beyond) for several decades. Collectively, they share over two centuries of experience in the jazz idiom.  The musicians of Novel Jazz are Herb Maine (bass), Mickey Felder (piano), David Clark (Guitar), David Harris (alto), Bill Manning, Michael Mitchell (trumpet) and Barney Balch (trombone).

Novel Jazz events at Skidompha began with the observation that lovers of books often are lovers of jazz. The superb acoustics of Skidompha’s atrium, plus the seating “in the round”, make it a superior place to see and hear jazz, all in a relaxed, informal atmosphere.  It was while performing at Skidompha some 18 years ago that the band began their unique focus on jazz giants, Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn, and just prior to the pandemic, they released their fourth CD on these two jazz icons. 

Admission for this event is free of charge. We encourage parents to bring their children, the future of this art form.  

The library is located at 184 Main St. in downtown Damariscotta.  Call 207-887-0919 during business hours for more information or, point your web browser to http://www.skidompha.org/ or the band’s web site www.mainejazz.net .

This promises to be a special Skidompha/Novel Jazz reunion evening as the band continues their 18th year of performances there.  If you have never attended a Novel Jazz event at Skidompha, check them out  and see why the Novel Jazz evenings at the library have been so popular for so long.  Join NJS for some jazz on a summer’s eve, to lighten your soul and enjoy the last rhythms of your Maine summer!