The Dance Hall is excited to host the kickoff concert for the 40th Annual Seacoast Jazz Festival, featuring none other than Seacoast favorites, Jason Anick and Chris Klaxton. Joining forces with some of the top jazz musicians in the seacoast area for this special performance (Mike Effenberger on keys, Eric Von Oeyen on drums, and Matt Hogan on Bass), they will perform an eclectic mix of contemporary jazz and creative arrangements of pop tunes.
Berklee College of Music Professor Jason Anick, has earned a reputation among string players as an imaginative improviser, versatile composer, and insightful educator.
Growing up playing fiddle tunes with his family and classical music with local orchestras, he developed a passion for improvisation, which led him to study jazz and classical music at Hartt Conservatory. In 2008, Anick started what would be a 10 year stint touring and recording with Grammy award-winning guitar virtuoso John Jorgenson while still a senior at Hartt Conservatory. As a band-leader, Anick has launched a variety of musical projects over the years, including the Gypsy Jazz group Rhythm Future Quartet, an Americana-inspired Acoustic Trio, and a contemporary jazz ensemble with pianist Jason Yeager. His string of recordings (Sleepless, Tipping Point, United, Travels, Rhythm Future Quartet and Friends) has earned him praise from Downbeat Magazine as a "Rising Star in the world of jazz violin."
New England native, Chris Klaxton, has developed a reputation as a gifted multi-instrumentalist, an imaginative composer, and an effective educator. With degrees in both classical and jazz trumpet, Klaxton has received a rich and varied education, studying with: Brian Lynch, Terence Blanchard, Jason Carder, Dr. Robert Stibler, Stephen Guerra, Whit Sidener, and Gary Lindsay.
Perhaps the most significant musical relationship of Klaxton’s career is that with famed trumpeter, Clark Terry. Years of study, several years as valet / travel manager, and more than a decade of friendship with Clark, has left Chris saturated with lessons and anecdotes (musical and otherwise). Chris is proud to pass on a repertoire unique to Clark, a system of phrasing and rhythmic pronunciation, and a means of conveyance handed down directly from one of the founding fathers of the music.
Mike Effenberger is a recording and performing artist who has been living in the NH Seacoast since 2007. He received the Young Beacon in Jazz award from New School University in New York City, from which he graduated in 2005. While there, he studied with diverse artists including Jane Ira Bloom, Kenny Werner, John Hollenbeck, Reggie Workman, Fred Hersch, and Joanne Brackeen. Mike has curated an unmistakably individual voice that draws on gospel, minimalism, jazz, and 20th century music.
Eric von Oeyen is an active member of the Seacoast music scene, performing as a drummer and percussionist with a wide array of local and regional groups. From a young age he had an interest in music, starting on piano at the age of 8 before taking up the drums in middle school. He later earned his degree in Music Performance from the University of New Hampshire, where he had the privilege of sharing the stage and learning from jazz masters Clark Terry, James Moody, Rufus Reid, and Jeff Hamilton.
Specializing in jazz and improvisatory music, Eric can be seen performing with Zero Gravity (with Nathan Therrien and Bryan Killough), OurBigBand, Chris Klaxton, Taylor O’Donnell, and Stu Dias.
Matt Hogan, bass, is glad to be back on the Seacoast after a long hiatus. A 2004 graduate of the Hartt school, Matt studied under jazz legends Nat Reeves and Steve Davis before moving to Boston. He enjoyed being part of both the Boston and NH scene, and spent many hours on the road with his bass. In 2009, Matt moved to Tokyo with his wife Sarah. There he performed on bass with ex-pat and Japanese musicians, learning just enough of the language to get in to trouble. His two beautiful children, Liam and June, were born in Japan. In late 2014, Matt returned to NH with his family, and quickly jumped back into the swing of things. He is currently the manager of the Ryan Seacrest Studio at Boston Children's Hospital.
$17 advance | $22 day-of
*fees not included