Exeter, NH (July 6, 2009)—The Friends of the Academy Library of Phillips Exeter Academy will host “Jay Geils Plays Jazz” on Wednesday, July 8; the second of five concerts of the summer series in Rockefeller Hall, in the Class of 1945 Library, on Front Street. The concert is free and open to the public, and begins at 7 p.m.
 
The quintet of Geils and Beaudoin, guitar; Charlie Jennison, woodwinds; Jesse Williams, bass; and Les Harris Jr., drums, will perform a historical array of jazz, blues and swing guitar standards. Known in the music world for playing rock ’n’ roll with the award-winning J. Geils Band, Geils is a consummate jazz and blues guitarist, rendering interpretive versions of such classics as Count Basie’s “Broadway.” With Beaudoin’s signature vocal impression of well-known selections such as “Stormy Monday,” the group evokes an original rendition of guitar sounds of a bygone era.

A Washington Post review says, “Seminal jazz sounds without sounding the least bit dated” and “Each player continued to set and exceed standards with each turn at bat.” The Boston Globe described the performers as “Swing masters.”

Jazz guitarist Beaudoin is an arranger and performer who began his career performing with the Boston Jazz Ensemble. He made two award-winning recordings with the Gerry Beaudoin Trio and mandolin titan, David Grisman, and has performed more recently with the New Guitar Summit. Beaudoin is a graduate of Berklee College of Music, and is an adjunct professor of music at Quincy Community College in Quincy, MA. He also plays on a 7-string guitar, which offers a greater range and harmonic richness to the instrument’s colorful tonal palette. With over 40 recordings, Beaudoin has recorded and performed with a number of musical greats, including: Howard Alden, Scott Hamilton, Eddie “Cleanhead” Vinson, John and Bucky Pizzarelli, Ronnie Earl, Jay McShann, Fred Lipsius, Dave McKenna, The Woody Herman Orchestra and harmonica virtuoso, Jerry Portnoy. 

Geils’ new endeavor follows a 25-year career with over 10 million records sold, a Grammy nomination, five gold records, multiple TV and movie appearances, and tours with the Allman Brothers and the Rolling Stones. Geils’ move to jazz was initiated with two successful blues recordings with former bandmate, Magic Dick, as the band Bluestime. In 2005, Geils released his first solo recording, Jay Geils Plays Jazz!

For further information, please call Academy Reference/Music Librarian Andrew R. Gatto at 603-777-3308 or visit the library’s webpage for a complete list of its upcoming events. For more information on other events, contact the Academy’s public events line at 603-777-4309, or visit the Academy’s Events Calendar. To learn more about the Academy, visit our website; for directions, call 603-777-4330.