Saxophonist and composer Russ Gershon is the founder of the renowned Either/Orchestra, a fearless explorer of the length and depth of jazz, and a major explorer of Ethiopian music, working with greats like Mulatu Astatke and Mahmoud Ahmed. He has also been a part of the Boston rock scene forever, and collaborated with cult bands Morphine and Medeski Martin & Wood,plus headliners like Cab Calloway and the Four Tops. He has also been heard on the radio as a jazz and more recently, classical music DJ – while he’s not teaching jazz history at MIT.

Russ brings this wealth of experience, styles and skills and channels them through his saxophones and flute in his trio, with a vocal number here and there. The RG3 features Either/Orch bassist Rick McLaughlin and drummer Brooke Sofferman. Both of these musicians are in-demand sidemen as well as leaders of their own groups.

Joining them as a special guest is Dave Bryant, a fantastic keyboardist who played with Ornette Coleman's Prime Time for many years.

Playing music by Russ's beloved influences Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Charles Mingus, Sonny Rollins, the Grateful Dead, Richard Thompson and others, as well as original compositions, the RG3 will go all kinds of familiar and unexpected places during its shows. 

“Dynamic” – Kevin Lowenthal, Boston Globe

“Immensely satisfying, with all manner of variety — emotionally, musically, in the solos and arrangements... [Gershon] plays beautifully, with great musicality — as a composer and bandleader sensitive to compositional details and arrangements. [A] show that held the ear and the mind and body at every moment.” – Jon Garelick (Boston Globe & Boston Phoenix contributor) on jongarelick.com

$15 or By Donation

Bring your blankets or folding chairs! 

PLEASE NOTE:

In the event of inclement weather, the concert will be moved inside at The Dance Hall @ 7:30pm

All performances indoors at The Dance Hall require:

PROOF OF FULL VACCINATION against COVID-19 or

PROOF OF A NEGATIVE COVID TEST administered within 72 hours.

MASKS are required until seated for patrons and staff.

Annie and the Fur Trappers are a Boston based traditional jazz and blues band which formed in 2016. Originally founded in St. Louis, Missouri, the band currently includes clarinet, trumpet, trombone, bass, banjo, guitar, washboard, and violin. Annie and the Fur Trappers is dedicated to performing and preserving the music of the 1920s and 30s today. The band plays traditional jazz, delta blues, ragtime, and swing music. Their version of "Delta Bound" was selected to be displayed at the Mississippi Arts and Entertainment Experience in Meridian, Mississippi. Annie and the Fur Trapper's original song "You Break It, you Buy It" was selected for the St. Louis Blues Society's 17 in 17 compilation album. Annie and the Fur Trappers have performed at a variety of music festivals including the Big Muddy Blues Festival, The Whitaker Jazz festival The Apple Butter Festival, Cherokee Street Jazz Fest, HONK!TX, Musikfest, The Cherokee Street Jazz Crawl, and The Rosebud Cafe Music Festival, to name a few.

The band released their second studio album, Muskrat Ramble, on vinyl in 2019. The album was recorded, mixed, and mastered by Paul Niehaus IV at Blue Lotus Studios. The album includes a number of blues, traditional jazz, and swing favorites, and won an award as “Best Self-Produced Album” by the St. Louis Blues Society. The vinyl was pressed by Standard Vinyl. The band, relocating to the Boston area in 2020 during the global pandemic, the band has been working on recording a new album at PBS studios in Massachusetts. The new CD is expected to release in 2022. Annie and the Fur Trappers is available to play for your function with ease in the New England area, or with travel arrangements wherever you are located.

$15/advance $20/door

All performances at The Dance Hall require:

PROOF OF FULL VACCINATION against COVID-19 or

PROOF OF A NEGATIVE COVID TEST administered within 72 hours.

MASKS ARE REQUIRED INDOORS for patrons and staff.

SAFETY PROTOCOLS REMAIN IN PLACE: PROOF OF VACCINATION & MASKING

The correlation of jazz music and tap dance is a tradition that has been passed along through the music. This performance is an expression of our gratitude to those dedicated to preserve this dance and this music, as well as those committed to progress the form.

Mark Shilansky - Keys

Andrew Emanuel - Sax

Scott Kiefner - Bass

Brodie Cavanaugh - Drums

Raised in NH, Ayan began tap dancing in local dance studios as a child. His first company experience was at the age of 13 when Ayan joined the New England Tap Ensemble directed by Aaron Tolson. At the age of 17, Ayan began touring across North America with dance companies, Atlantic Steps, Tap Kids and Tapestry. In 2012 Ayan was awarded a Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Grant by the New Hampshire State Council on the Arts with blues musician and educator, TJ Wheeler. Since working with Wheeler, Ayan has strived to perform throughout New England bringing the dance to the music and those who support it.

$15/Advance

$20/Door

All performances at The Dance Hall require:

PROOF OF FULL VACCINATION against COVID-19 or

PROOF OF A NEGATIVE COVID TEST administered within 72 hours.

MASKS ARE REQUIRED INDOORS for patrons and staff.

SAFETY PROTOCOLS REMAIN IN PLACE: PROOF OF VACCINATION & MASKING

Maine based singer-songwriters Marc McElroy and Seth Warner will be sharing the stage in an evening of trading songs and conversation backed by an All-Star band and horn section at The Dance Hall, 7 Walker Street, Kittery, Maine on Saturday, December 4th @ 7:30pm. Tickets are $15 in advance and $18 Day of show and are available at http://thedancehallkittery.org

Marc McElroy and Seth Warner started performing music together in the fall of 1990 at the University of Maine, and have collaborated, recorded and harmonized off and on, ever since. Building on the success of their highly successful and entertaining acoustic duo shows, this early December Saturday evening in Kittery will sure to be full of wit, warmth and a bit of wonder. Both are no strangers to the vibrant and inviting Dance Hall stage and will bring a mix of originals and choice covers that are sure feature the talents of the entire band. The show will also close with a special set of music from The Band’s “The Last Waltz” concert film which famously celebrated that bands retirement in November of 1976 with many special guests including Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Van Morrison, Neil Young and many others.

Marc is a seasoned and soulful singer, songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist and has been an active musician since 1989 and has performed literally all over the world, on the street corners of Galway and rock clubs of Moscow. His band Elroy has released 4 full length albums of original music and appeared up and down the Northeast coast from the island of Vinalhaven to the island of Manhattan. He also operates the Electric Cave recording studio along with the venerable and well loved “Gary’s Guitars” in Portsmouth, New Hampshire

Seth’s performances have been described as “ethereal” by the Portland Press Herald and has appeared on stages as diverse as The Boston Early Music Festival, WGBH radio, KD Rhein River cruises in Germany and at Joe’s Pub in New York City. Highlights from his performances include collaborations and tours with the Grammy award winning Parker String Quartet and the extraordinary gospel and blues singer, Francine Reed. Also enjoying a varied and successful career in arts administration, Seth was named as an "Emerging Arts Leader" by the Association of Performing Arts Presenters in 2008. 

The band joining Marc and Seth will include the guitarist Evan Haines, bassist Jim Lamond and drummer Marty Joyce. The horn section features Matt Kennedy on saxophones and brothers Casey Urich and Corey Urich on trumpet and alto saxophone respectively. 

Please note: Safety Protocols will be in place including proof of vaccination, masking in motion, and limited seating.

Drawing on their eclectic backgrounds and individual passions, EHKM bring together a coheseive adventure through music from past to present, local to global, but always in the here and now. Playing the music of Thelonious Monk, Charles Mingus, Carla Bley, Bill Frisell, Brad Shepik, and others plus some traditional Klezmer, Middle Eastern, and original compositions.

Seacoast/Brooklyn, NY drummer, John Mettam has worked with jazz greats Ran Blake, Herb Robertson, legendary guitarist Marc Ribot, and a host of great musicians, including Bobby Previte, Mark Feldman, David Tronzo, and Matt Darriau & Paradox Trio.

Saxophonist Duncan Hardy is an active performer in the greater New England music scene. In 2010 he received his B.A. in Jazz Saxophone Performance from S.U.N.Y Purchase College. While at Purchase Duncan was awarded the prestigious James Moody Scholarship award and had the privilege of working with James Moody, Hank Jones, Jon Faddis, Steve Wilson, Eric Alexander, Jon Gordon, Hal Galper, Antonio Hart, Maria Schneider and Randy Brecker.

Keyboardist Mike Effenberger is a recording and performing artist who has been living in the 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. Studying with diverse artists including Jane Ira Bloom, Reggie Workman, Fred Hersch, and Joanne Brackeen, Mike has curated an unmistakably individual voice that draws on gospel, American minimalism, jazz, and 20th century music. Mike plays throughout New England with a variety of bands including Soggy Po Boys, fiveighthirteen, Jazzputin and the Jug Skunks, the secular gospel choir Rock My Soul, OURBIGBAND, Dan Blakeslee, and Weird Turn Pro, which plays his original music.

Bassist Scott Kiefner Graduated from McGill University’s Schulich School of Music in Montreal, QC, where he studied with Fraser Hollins and Chris McCann. In the summer of 2013, he was selected to attend the School for Improvisational Music Intensive workshop in New York City. 

Please note: Safety Protocols will be in place including proof of vaccination, masking in motion, and limited seating.