Experience the Ultimate Musical Dialogue Between Two of Jazz’s Most Iconic Composers, Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn! Their partnership was described by Ellington himself as two minds operating as one. Whether it is the rhythmic drive of an Ellington original or the impressionistic, classical beauty of a Strayhorn score, each note is designed to transport you to a world that is "beyond category". Join the Novel Jazz Septet at the Saco River Theatre on Wednesday, 19 August 2026 for an intimate afternoon matinee of discovery of these two legendary musicians, exploring the undiscovered dimensions of their brilliance—rich, complex, and as breathtaking today as it was half a century ago. You will step into the hidden vault of 20th-century American genius. While the world knows a fraction of their legendary catalog, 98% of the iconic Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn compositions remain a well-kept secret.

For more info, call 207-929-6473 or point your web browser to https://www.sacorivertheatre.org/ .

An evening with the Novel Jazz Septet is so much more than a musical show. Steeped in the stories and the history surrounding both Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn, the band brings the audience into a time and place that informed some of the most iconic and influential music of the 20th century and helps listeners understand the forces that shaped Ellington’s and Strayhorn’s contributions to the jazz world. The septet will bring their compelling program to the Opera House at Boothbay Harbor on Friday, Aug. 21st, at 7:30 p.m. And, the show will be recorded for a new CD, so the enthusiasm and engagement of the room will be captured as an added element of the experience.

Novel Jazz Septet 22 year band member Barney Balch shares that Strayhorn, who was quite a bit younger than Ellington, and tragically died at the very young age of 51, also composed heavily in their amazing partnership at that time. “There are lots of backstories about how those guys met, and our show basically deals with both the tunes and the stories. There's a story behind every piece and it's my jazz iceberg, I call it. We've been chipping away at this for 22 years and haven't even made a dent.”

For more information, you can call (207) 929-6473.