Craving some good jazz since The Press Room has been closed? Starting in May, you’ll be able to fulfill that craving every Thursday from 8pm to 10pm at Button Factory Jazz. Every week, you’ll see local live jazz music at the WSCA Button Factory stage. Your $10 ticket will directly support both the musicians and the nonprofit community radio station.
The debut night, Thursday, May 3rd, will feature the band Sojoy. You may remember them as the musical minds behind The Adventures of Oliver Z. Wanderkook (the award-winning album that accompanied the legendary show of the same name from last year) and part of the musicians that co-comoposed music for Sound Body (the music/meditation/yoga experience series at 3S Artspace earlier this year).
More info on Button Factory Jazz
The Seacoast’s jazz community is excited to announce the launching of Button Factory Jazz at WSCA Thursdays 8-10pm ($10 suggested donation), with the debut featuring Sojoy May 3rd.
The Button Factory Stage is located in WSCA Radio Station, 909 Islington Street, Portsmouth, NH 03801. A large portion of the $10 suggested donation goes to support the artists involved, and the rest goes directly to support the operations of WSCA, a volunteer-run 501(c)3 non-profit organization. WSCA Board-member/DJ Chris Hislop and musician Mike Effenberger have collaborated to bring this new series to life, with the help of many regional musicians and music lovers.
“Jazz has long been an integral thread of the seacoast area cultural fabric,” says Hislop. “Think of the Button Factory Stage as your second living room with an exemplary soundtrack not found on your local Spotify station.”
Jonny Peiffer’s Sojoy is a chord-less little big-band modern jazz septet formed in 2014. The group performs lots of Peiffer’s creative compositions, plus inventive arrangements of classic tunes by Ray Charles, Otis Redding, Patsy Cline, Bobby McFerrin, Neil Young, and more.
The group has released two albums, 2015’s eponymous debut and 2017’s The Adventures of Oliver Z. Wanderkook, was the stage band for Circulus’ 2017 production ‘The Adventures of Oliver Z. Wanderkook’ at West End Studio Theatre, and was the featured performer at TEDxPiscataquaRiver 2017. Sojoy has enjoyed collaborations with many great local artists: Stuart Dias of Soggy Po Boy fame (Stujoy), Mark Shilansky, Taylor O’Donnell, and many others.
Sojoy’s ‘Wanderkook’ album was listed among Bandcamp.com’s ‘Best of Bandcamp Jazz’ in June of 2017.
“Tightly arranged and swinging like a modern version of John Kirbys Sextet of the 30s.” “Utterly charming!” – Jazz Weekly
A “merry band of joyful noise creationists.” “Proving that great music still exists even as new traditions are being forged.” – Chris Hislop, Portsmouth Herald
“The album (The Adventures of Oliver Z. Wanderkook) stands alone as a piece of art … they maintain their memorable beauty and convey a story all their own.” – Austin Sorette, The Sound
Sojoy is:
- Matt Langley, Eric Klaxton, Nick Mainella – reeds
- Zach Lange, Josh Gagnon – brass
- Scott Kiefner – bass
- Jonny Peiffer – drums, composer, arranger
