In the 1970's, local musician Ben Baldwin was studying music at Wesleyan University and one of his teachers was Makanda Ken McIntyre. "He was the most challenging and inspirational teacher and motivated many of us to become musicians with his no nonsense work ethic and his sense of humor," says Baldwin. 

On Saturday, April 19, 2014 at 7:30 p.m., The Makanda Project comes to The Dance Hall in Kittery. The Project is an ensemble based in Makanda Ken McIntyre's hometown of Boston and is dedicated to continuing his legacy through performance of his music - specifically, by playing compositions which Makanda never had the opportunity to record or perform in public. An enormous body of such work exists, reflecting the full range of Makanda's imagination as a composer. The group hopes that as some of it is heard there will be heightened appreciation for Makanda's significance as a musician.

Leader, arranger, and pianist John Kordalewski studied and performed with him. The other members of the group are Kurtis Rivers, Arni Cheatham, Sean Berry, Charlie Kohlhase - saxophones; Jerry Sabatini - trumpet; Robert Stringer, Sarah Politz - trombone; Bill Lowe - bass trombone, tuba; Diane Richardson - voice; John Kordalewski - piano; Wes Brown - bass; Warren Smith - drums. Special guest performer is New York dancer Mickey Davidson.

"His music is playful, brilliant, serious, traditional, and avant-garde - in the spirit of Ornette, Mingus, Ellington," Baldwin says. "He deserves to be heard, and the fact that the best players on the Boston scene are devoted to keeping his music alive is testament to its greatness." 

Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door and can be purchased at www.thedancehallkittery.org or RiverRun Bookstore, Wallingford Square, Kittery.