A Return to Sanford for Local Jazz Legends

Sanford native Mike McGinnis returns for a jazz homecoming with fellow SHS alumni.

Photo: Peter Gannushkin, www.mikemcginnis.com

By Brian Boisvert

Calling all jazz enthusiasts! Mark your calendars for a night of exceptional music as Sanford native Mike McGinnis returns to his hometown along with a stellar quartet for a performance at the Sanford Unitarian Universalist Church on Friday, July 26th, at 7 pm.

This special concert reunites McGinnis, a renowned saxophonist and clarinetist, with his longtime friends and fellow musicians. Drummer Norm Bergeron, a 1989 SHS graduate, is a long-standing member of the famed One O’clock Lab Band who currently serves as the Director of Percussion Studies at Temple College in Texas. Bassist Joshua Davis is Director of Jazz Studies at Penn State, with an impressive international performance record. Pianist Mark Shilansky is a versatile musician known for his innovative approach to jazz, described as an “inventive, modern mainstream jazz pianist” by The Boston Globe. And 1989 Sanford grad Barry Saunders has graced stages across the United States and Europe and his work on both saxophone and clarinet has been featured on Maine Public Radio and various recordings, showcasing his versatility and talent.

McGinnis, a 1991 graduate of Sanford High School, shares a rich musical history with his bandmates. “We’ve been playing together since we were teenagers,” he explains. Back then, a local Portland jazz club, Cafe No, provided a platform for the early talents of many band members, bringing together Saunders, Bergeron, and their friend Davis, a 1989 Massabesic High School graduate, along with pianist Shilansky, whom they met at a summer jazz camp at UNH.

McGinnis says he’s thrilled by this full-circle moment, pointing out how wonderful it is that “the five of us all studied music in college and continued playing and became professionals.”

This concert fulfills a long-held dream for McGinnis. He shares: “I always wanted to reunite with…Barry and Norm and play the music we were trying to play back then.” And they’re now able to do that, with the experience and skill they’ve all gained over the years.

Adding another layer of significance, this concert marks a homecoming for the musicians. Despite many of them growing up in Sanford, they haven’t had many opportunities to perform there. “It’s very exciting to come back to Sanford where we all learned to play music…to share everything we’ve learned with the people from our hometown,” says McGinnis.

Tickets for this special jazz event are $20 and can be purchased at the door. Children under 12 are free. Don’t miss this chance to witness the magic created by these talented musicians as they revisit their roots and share their passion for jazz with the community.