Clive Davis for The Times UK – One of the many virtues of the retro outfit led by the pianist Evan Palazzo and the singer Elizabeth Bougerol is that it reminds us that there was a time when jazz was a form of entertainment. That’s almost a subversive notion now that the music has acquired conservatory status.Moving up the cultural hierarchy has its drawbacks, though, so we should be grateful that the New Yorkers are helping to reconnect with the spirit of the speakeasy. They may not be the only band celebrating this kind of prewar material, but there are very few with such an astute grasp of showmanship.Like Pink Martini, the elegant band who have made lounge music hip again, the Sardines have built their own young audience. Their Roundhouse show — part of the In the Round season — started with a flourish and never once sagged, old favourites spiced with tracks from a new album, due out in April. The closing version of Caravan even managed to find a fresh path into the much-covered Tizol-Ellington standard.Palazzo and Bougerol may affect a casual demeanour — they chat and joke with each other as if playing in a neighbourhood bar — but the concert rattled along. In previous shows the tap dancing interludes have been a relatively sedate affair. The present dancer, AC Lincoln, is a much more flamboyant performer; his eyes shaded by the brim of his hat, he has a slightly humanoid, Max Headroom-style persona.The three-man horn section was raw and visceral. Even if the sound mix did Bougerol few favours, her understated vocals, with that bluesy, Peggy Lee edge to them, drew us close. Her ability to sing Comes Love and that Disney anthem I Wanna Be Like You in French was a cute touch too. Yes, a cartoon song at a jazz gig, but who cares, as long as it swings?

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The Hot Sardines on TKA

Nate Chinen for NPR – There are probably better uses for a time machine — but if you could drop in on the band room at Philadelphia’s High School for Creative and Performing Arts, sometime in the late 1980s, you’d encounter some historic jazz talent in the making. I’m referring in particular to the untouchable organ virtuoso Joey DeFrancesco and the irreproachable bassist Christian McBride.

They were musical brothers then, bound by a deep love of the jazz tradition and the impressive scope of their youthful abilities. And while each has followed his own path since — leading bands, making albums, achieving preeminence in the field — that fraternal bond hasn’t faded or faltered. So for this soulful episode of Jazz Night in America, it was only fitting that McBride, our host, reconnects with DeFrancesco in the City of Brotherly Love.

Over the course of the show, we’ll hear music from some sharp, recent DeFrancesco gigs at Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola, as well as a taste of his spiritually-minded new album, In the Key of the Universe. And we’ll hear what it sounds like when a couple of outspoken Philly cats lock into a groove. Pull up a chair and enjoy some reminiscing, some reflecting, some repartee ­— even a bit of spontaneous singing — as Chris McB catches up with Joey D.

Listen to full episode of Jazz Night In America on NPR

Joey DeFrancesco on TKA

Jeffrey Greenblatt for JamBase – Joe Russo’s Almost Dead hit the midway point of their three-night stand at The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester on Saturday. The Grateful Dead tribute act was joined by guitarist Jonathan Goldberger during their second set and teamed up with Red Baraat during their encore on a night that also saw them serve up a pair of bust outs.

The five-piece opened things up with a Tom Hamilton led take on the “Stagger Lee.” The traditional folk tune was followed by the first surprise of the night as they unearthed their take on “My Brother Essau.” The latter-day Grateful Dead chestnut was last played back on March 17, 2017. George Jones country classic “The Race Is On” came ahead of an expansive “Help On The Way” and “Slipknot!” Instead of closing out the classic trifecta with “Franklin’s Tower” the quintet looked to another country tune as they delivered Merle Haggard’s “Mama Tried.” A tender “Stella Blue” came ahead of a set-closing take on the Americana-rocker “Brown-Eyed Women.”

When JRAD emerged for their second set of the night they were joined by Goldberger. With the extra guitarist in tow, they worked their way through an extended stretch of freeform jazz-tinged weirdness that eventually melted into the psychedelic-drenched “Blues For Allah.” Last night marked the band’s second ever attempted of the title track to the Dead’s 1975 album which had been sitting on the shelf since October 8, 2016. The now six-piece act then dug in on a fiery, must-hear version of “Saint Stephen.” “Truckin,” The Band’s interpretation of Bruce Springsteen’s “Atlantic City” and “Casey Jones” helped fill out the back half of the frame. The day-appropriate “One More Saturday Night” that featured the band jamming on Elton John’s “Saturday Night’s Alright For Fighting” brought the stanza to an end.

Red Baraat, who played an opening set at Garcia’s, worked their way through the crowd from the back of the venue second line-style to stage to get the encore going. An extended jam followed as, drummer Joe Russo joined in prior to the rest of JRAD emerging as well as Goldberger. The ensemble then lit into a raucous show-closing take on Buddy Holly’s “Not Fade Away.”

Read the full article and watch the videos on JamBase

Red Baraat on TKA

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