By Steve Dunfey
The Seacoast Jazz Society plays a role in the life of many residents. The former president of the Society, Charlie Jennison is a multi-talented musician. While featuring on saxophone he is adept at other instruments including piano. He just played a gig playing solo piano at The Loft in Meredith. Jennison is well known for his music and also produced a video history of jazz in the Seacoast that is well worth watching.
According to his website, Charlie is “a multi-instrumentalist and plays lead alto sax with the Seacoast Big Band. He is also a member of the Capitol Jazz Orchestra that plays frequently at the Capitol Center for the Arts in Concord, NH. For more than 30 years, Charlie worked with Exeter, NH based jazz pianist Tommy Gallant. Gallant was a teacher at the Berklee School of Music and an alumnus of Woody Herman’s band, and heavily influenced Charlie’s growth as a musician and music educator.”
“Charlie also studied with some major jazz figures as Jerry Bergonzi, Charlie Mariano, Jerry Coker and Ted Casher. Charlie has shared the stage or been in the recording studio with such notable musicians such as Clark Terry, Dizzy Gillespie, Buddy DeFranco, Alan Dawson and Marshall Royal as well as backing up live performances for other exceptional musicians such as Rosemary Clooney, Carmen Bradford, Natalie Cole, Andy Williams. Delfeayo Marsalis, jazz violinist Sara Caswell, saxophonist Grace Kelly, and singer/ songwriter Jon Bon Jovi!”
“A versatile educator, whether presenting jazz performances & workshops for libraries, jazz societies & schools throughout the New England region or coaching a jazz combo, directing a jazz band or giving a lecture on the history of jazz in the NH Seacoast, Charlie brings his love for music to all things jazz related.”
I caught up with Jennison and we talked about his experience as a top-notch musician. He recently retired as a member of the Phillips Exeter Academy faculty but continues to contribute to the Seacoast music scene in many ways. Although he considers himself as semi-retired, he plays piano for the Manchester NH Jazz Orchestra which is an 18 piece big band. He also is an instructor with the Seacoast Academy of Music giving private lessons and leading their band.
Although he has retired as president of the jazz society he is proud of their achievements. “We have a strong scholarship program as well as music in the streets. There is quite a bit happening. It is going in a good direction. We received $200,000 dollars last year with $150,000 going towards jazz education. We have a good board with active members. The board has skills keeping the nonprofit thing together.”
Jennison is known for his “History of Jazz in the Seacoast” which can be found online. It is a highly detailed account of the jazz scene here since the 1950’s.
Jennison has also taught at the University of New Hampshire for 16 years and helped Dave Seiler develop the jazz program by conducting the second jazz band. Some of his former students include Ken Clark, Jim Butka, Trent Austin and Chris Humphrey. Jennison also coached Chris Klaxton and Nick Mainella at Timberlane High School.
Jennison’s favorite musicians are all saxophone players: Don Byas, Hank Mobley, Cannonball Adderley and Phil Woods.
Jennison is also active in causes outside of music such as the Indigenous NH Collaborative Collective.
Jennison had a close relationship with the late Tommy Gallant who was considered to be the leader of the Seacoast jazz scene. “He was a mentor for me beginning in the early 70’s. Tommy was helpful getting me work. I learned a lot from him. His reputation was tremendous. I loved the guy.”
Jennison recently performed with the Seacoast Big Band at the Seacoast Jazz Festival in August. That band sounded great under the leadership of Nate Jorgenson of the University of New Hampshire. Jennison has written more than a dozen charts for the Big Band.
As Jennison likes to put it, he creates “peaceful music for a restless world.”
