This concert is the official 2026 International Jazz Day celebration for Portland, Maine.

International Jazz Day, created by UNESCO and led by jazz legend Herbie Hancock, celebrates jazz as a global force for unity, diplomacy, and cultural exchange. Each year, performances take place around the world—from Ireland to Iran, Kenya to New Zealand—and this event proudly represents Portland’s official contribution to that worldwide celebration.

The Novel Jazz Septet is dedicated to sharing the music and stories of Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn, and members of Ellington’s legendary orchestra. Together, Ellington and Strayhorn composed thousands of works—many of them rarely heard. Novel Jazz brings these overlooked gems to life alongside classic standards, drawing from original recordings and manuscripts housed in the Duke Ellington Collection at the Smithsonian and the Strayhorn Collection at the Library of Congress. Reimagined for septet and shaped with a contemporary sensibility, this music feels both timeless and new.

The ensemble is made up of seasoned New England jazz musicians whose deep experience and shared love of swing, storytelling, and groove result in performances that are joyful, soulful, and irresistibly engaging.