Eric Klaxton
Eric Klaxton (jazz piano, composition, audio engineering) performs frequently with many notable ensembles, including The Soggy Po Boys, Sojoy, OurBigBand, and composes and arranges for a number of his own groups. He earned his B.A. in Saxophone Performance at the University of New Hampshire where he studied jazz harmony with Mark Shilanksy, arranging with Mike Annicchiarico, and worked with such inspiring visiting artists as Clark Terry, Frank Wess, Terell Stafford, Jimmy Heath, and Stjepko Gut. Eric enjoys the arts across a broad spectrum, seeking inspiration from the works of great philosophers, classical composers, modern authors, directors, and visual artists.
Keith Perry
Keith Perry (jazz, blues & rock guitar) has performed in the Montreux Jazz Festival and with the 3 o’clock Jazz Ensemble at UNH. He regularly plays around the Seacoast at venues including Blue in Portland, the Stone Church, and many others. Keith holds a Bachelor’s degree in Jazz Performance from UNH and has studied with David Newsam, Mack Walters, and Phil Sargent. He has taught through his private studio and at UNH’s Summer Youth Music School (SYMS) program.
Matt Langley
Matt Langley (saxophones (remote only)) has studied with Lou Marini of Saturday Night Live, David Baker, Ted Dunbar, and Stan Strickland. He has recorded extensively with the Charlie Kohlhase Quintet, his own group, Color, with pianist Pandelis Karayorgis’ group System of 5, and with Mike Effenberger’s weirdturnpro. Mr. Langley has also shared the stage or recording studio with Ron Carter, Richie Cole, Fred Hersch, John Medeski, Billy Martin, Chris Wood, Matt Wilson, Tiger Okoshi, Roswell Rudd, Dave Douglas, and many others.
Mike Walsh
Mike Walsh (percussion) has been drumming for over 35 years and teaching for 20 years. He has a B.A. in Music Performance from UNH, where he studied drum set with Les Harris Jr. and percussion with Nancy Smith. Mike continued drum set studies with Bob Gullotti, Dave Dicenso, Dan Weiss, and Steve Michaud. He has performed and recorded with original classic soul groups Mother Superior and The Sliding Royales, modern jazz groups Equal Time and Weird Turn Pro, and blues singer-songwriter-pianist Veronica Lewis. He has performed at venues and festivals throughout the northeast and as far away as Mexico City and Jackson Hole, Wyo. Mike also teaches at Shaker Road School and Portsmouth Music and Arts Center.
Scott Kiefner
Scott Kiefner (bass) is a Music School alumnus who graduated from McGill University’s Schulich School of Music in Montreal, QC, where he studied with Fraser Hollins and Chris McCann. After college, he was selected for additional studies at the School for Improvisational Music Intensive workshop in New York City. He has since returned to New England, where he performs as an in-demand bass player with Jonathan Lorentz, Jim Dozet, Chris Klaxton, and many others throughout the region.
Tim Gilmore
Tim Gilmore (percussion) holds a B.S. in Elementary Education and Music from Salem State College, with additional studies in composition and performance at Berklee College of Music. He is a member of the Harry Skoler Jazz Quartet and has performed with many ensembles, including the Cape Ann Symphony, Symphony by the Sea, Boston Percussion Ensemble, and the Cambridge Harmonic Orchestra. Tim has shared the stage with Lester Bowie, Marion McPartland, Tower of Power, Tiger Okoshi, and Warren Vache, among others. His recordings include A Work of Heart, Reflections on the Art of Swing, and Conversations in the Language of Jazz on Brownstone Records.
Zeb Cruikshank
Zeb Cruikshank (jazz, blues, and rock guitar) performs and teaches in musical genres ranging from blues and classic rock to acoustic fingerstyle, jazz, and classical guitar. Most recently he was a full-time guitar faculty member at MacPhail Center for Music in Minneapolis. He holds a Bachelor’s in Guitar Performance from McNally Smith College of Music, with further studies in their advanced Artist Diploma program. Zeb has recorded five albums, and opened for national acts such as Maceo Parker, Living Colour, Semisonic, Firehouse, and Chris Duarte. In Minneapolis he was known for his original jazz fusion project The Zeb Cruikshank Band, his acoustic duo Jess & Zeb, and classic rock band The Brute Squad.