Novel Jazz is returning to the Skidompha Public Library in Damariscotta on Saturday, 20 December, 2025, 7-9:30 PM, for a jazz winter solstice celebration! They will be playing out of the Great American Songbook, but tunes will be befitting the longest night of the year. Proceeds will benefit Skidompha’s Little Food Pantry. This evening marks the last show of the band’s 21st year in which Novel Jazz has been playing straight-ahead jazz for audiences throughout Maine (and beyond). Collectively, they share over two centuries of experience in the jazz idiom. The musicians of Novel Jazz are Herb Maine (acoustic bass), Barney Balch (trombone), Bill Manning (drums), Michael Mitchell (trumpet), Mickey Felder (piano), David Clarke (guitar) and Nate Johengen (saxophone). There also will be a special guest artist for this show.

Novel Jazz events at Skidompha began in 2004 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 that the band began their unique focus on jazz giants, Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn. The band has released four CDs featuring a wide variety of compositions by these two jazz icons.

As is always the case, we encourage parents to bring their children, the future of this art form. The library is located at 184 Main Street 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 evening with the solstice celebration! If you have never attended a Novel Jazz event at Skidompha, check them out on Saturday, 20 December, 2025 and see why the Novel Jazz evenings at the library have been so popular for over two decades. Join NJS for an evening of winter solstice music, music fitting for the longest night of the year, music to warm your soul, all to benefit Skidompha’s Little Food Pantry!