Mes Amis to perform at Wayside Theatre April 28
DEXTER — Mes Amis, a Gypsy jazz quartet, plays at the Wayside Theatre at 7 p.m. on Saturday, April 28. They play an infectious mix of traditional Gypsy, Latin and American jazz standards along with many original compositions.
Gypsy jazz has insistent rhythms, bouncing bass lines and sweetly intricate melodies that are easy on the ears for those unfamiliar with jazz, and yet can stand the scrutiny of an aficionado.
French for “my friends,” Mes Amis consists of Steve Lynnworth handling the lead guitar and vocals, Harry Richter providing “La Pompe,” the steady backbeat typical of the style, Ezra Rugg on the upright bass and Shane Ellis on clarinet and saxophone.
Lynnworth started playing guitar at age 17 but didn’t really get bitten by the “Gypsy” bug until 2008 when he was 41. He has backed up national artists Shirley Lewis and Pinetop Perkins, jammed onstage with Luther “Guitar Jr.” Johnson, and opened shows for Johnny Winter, Dickie Betts, and B.B. King.
He is the guitar instructor at the University of Maine-Farmington and author of “Understanding The Chords.” This instructional reference book focuses on music theory without having to learn to read music.
After subbing for Mes Amis occasionally, Richter joined the band full time in 2014. When he isn’t busy playing guitar, he is a violin maker and owner of Somerset Violins in Waterville.
Rugg started out early in life making music any way he could; trying his hand at euphonium, trumpet, piano, guitar, drums and bass. Hehas backed up The Coasters, played with Jon Fishman and fronted his own group, The Antigravity Band. He’s always the first-call sub for Gypsy Jazzers Mes Amis — Wells Gordon can’t make it to the April 28 concert.
Clarinet and saxophone player Ellis is the owner-operator of Ellis Bands of Maine. He is a Maine artist, master woodwind player, music educator (including at Foxcroft Academy), music arranger, audio specialist and band leader. Ellis is available for consultation, music arranging and private instruction on saxophone, clarinet and flute.
For more information on Mes Amis and to hear them, go to http://www.mesamis.biz or call Steve at 441-0629.
The show has no reservations and doors open 6:30 p.m. Homemade goodies and pretty good coffee will be sold at intermission. The evening also has a door prize and 50/50. For more information, please call 277-3733 or 270-1166 or on Facebook “Wayside Grange.”
The theatre is located at 851 North Dexter Road (Route 23).
Contributed photo
MES AMIS AT WAYSIDE THEATRE — Mes Amis, a Gypsy jazz quartet, plays at the Wayside Theatre in North Dexter at 7 p.m. on Saturday, April 28. Mes Ammis — French for “my friends” — plays a mix of traditional Gypsy, Latin and American jazz standards along with many original compositions.