SOJOY ALBUM RELEASE PARTY AT THE DANCE HALL!

Kittery, Maine - Sojoy, a little big band modern jazz septet, is having their first album release party at The Dance Hall in Kittery on Friday, Nov. 20 at 7:30pm. The album is a full-length disc of 10 tracks spanning more than 70 minutes (plus two bonus tracks included in the digital download). The band will perform selections from the album in addition to collaborating with some very special guests.

The material presented on the album expands the scope of what is expected from a typical jazz outfit, including music inspired by a particular banjo style, and themes inspired by a murmuration of starlings. There is music to dance to and music that induces daydreams, music to fall in love to and music to cry to, and music that attempts to communicate something about the Transcendent and Miraculous. CJ Lewis of actor and director fame says “after I listen to Sojoy I always want to go outside and let my imagination entangle with the night sky.”

Sojoy is the creation of drummer/composer Jonny Peiffer. Over the course of 2014 he assembled his
dream team, which includes members from celebrated bands like Soggy Po Boys and Mother Superior and the Sliding Royales, as well as improvisors like Matt Langley who performs and records with some of the biggest names in the jazz avant garde. They have been wowing audiences everywhere they go with their hummable melodies, warm harmonies and wildly creative solos. “Peiffer has mastered his own voice, proving that great music still exists even as new traditions are being forged.” - (Chris Hislop, Portsmouth Herald)

In addition to the Sojoy performance, the evening will feature some very special guests.Visual Jazz artist Roger Goldenberg will be collaborating with the group, creating paintings on the spot that are so vibrant they are like an optical espresso shot straight to your cerebral cortex. Poet Sarah Anderson will integrate some of her own poems into the music, poems that are so real you will realize you too live a poetical life. Mike “The Wizard” Effenberger will join them on keys and lend some general wizardry to the opening set. Stu Dias will add his own surprising element to the performance. Artist Sara Argue, who designed the beautiful album artwork, will be decorating the Dance Hall with the visual equivalent of a warm hug and a high five. Together, they will attempt to render sound visual, words musical, and colors tactile. No drugs necessary (or allowed).

Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 at the door and can be purchased at www.thedancehallkittery.org and www.brownpapertickets.com.

Sojoy is: Jonny Peiffer (drums, composer), Matt Langley (saxophones), Eric Klaxton (saxophone), Nick Mainella (saxophone), Zach Lange (trumpet), Claude Fried (trombone), and Scott Kiefner (bass). Special guest artists: Roger Goldenberg (painter), Sarah Anderson (poet), Mike Effenberger (keyboard), Stu Dias (vocalist), Sara Argue (installation artist, event designer).

Roger Goldenberg - Visual Jazz Painter, or in other words, an ExpressaVizzazzaVeeBopanist. Roger improvises with color, shapes and textures just like a jazz musician improvises with the sound of his instrument. He works like a sculptor, bringing the essence out of the canvas, like it was always there waiting. Originally trained as a geologist, Roger received his MFA in Studio Art from the University of North Carolina–Greensboro.

Sarah Anderson - Poet, English teacher, mother of two. Sarah grew up around visual artists, writers, musicians, and educators, and considers poetry and teaching two of her primary passions today. She has a BA in English from Skidmore College and an MFA from the Warren Wilson College Program for Writers, and currently teaches at Phillips Exeter Academy. Sarah's poems have appeared in both print and online journals. She recently started a reading series (The Silo Series) in her Word Barn in Exeter.

Mike “The Wizard” Effenberger - All manner of keyboard instruments and electronics. He plays in so many regional and national acts it would be impossible to name them all, but to name a few: Tan Vampires, Bing and Ruth, Mother Superior and the Sliding Royales, Soggy Po Boys, Jazzputin, Fiveighthirteen, Dan Blakeslee’s Calabash Club, & Shango. He also mixed the Sojoy record. He may or may not be a certified wizard.

Stu Dias - The man, the hair, the enigma. He is one of the most musical human beings we know, and we know lots of musical beings. He is responsible for the existence of roughly half of the Seacoast music scene as you know it. Indeed, Sojoy may not be what it is without him, as there is almost no bigger fan than he. We will not disclose what he will be up to, but we assure you it will be handsome as all get out.

Sara Argue - Illustrator, graphic designer, and now, event planner. She designs everything from wine bottle labels and a line of children’s toys to huge wine tasting events, and in this case, album artwork, t-shirts, stickers, buttons, and decorations for the whole inside of the Dance Hall (and outside - she has designed the mural on the West side of the building.)