Sassafras – Dec19 @The Ellington
December 19 @ 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Formed in mid 2015, Sassafras has now established a reputation as one of Perth’s premier gypsy jazz groups. Fronted by vocalist Jessie Gordon and also featuring Lachlan Gear and Aaron Deacon (guitars), Adrian Galante (clarinet) and Pete Jeavons (doublebass), the members of Sassafras are all widely experienced and well known to Perth audiences through their work with various groups on the Perth scene. Featuring music from composers such as Django Reinhardt, Duke Ellington, Cole Porter, Edith Piaf and Birelli Lagrene (and many others), Sassafras combines toe-tapping swing, breakneck gypsy jazz, wistful french ballads and re-worked jazz standards in a vibrant and engaging mix of acoustic music, all performed with the dazzling virtuosity and passion that is intrinsic to the gypsy jazz tradition.
Sassafras has sold out numerous gigs at the Ellington Jazz Club as well as other venues such Lazy Susan’s Comedy Den, The Paddlesteamer Decoy, The Mundaring Weir Hotel, The Navvy Club (Jazz Fremantle), Malt Supper Club and Juniper Studio (Darlington). For three years running (2016-18), Sassafras has presented a show “An Evening in Paris” as part of the Perth Fringeworld Festival which received rave reviews, and the band featured as part of the 2017 Perth International Jazz Festival. The band is currently working on it’s debut album.
If you would like to keep in touch with Sassafras, please sign up to the band’s mailing list:
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REVIEWS
Fringfeed, Jess Ammon Jan 30th 2018 “Sassafras, the gypsy jazz band won a heap of local fans at Juniper Studio recently. A full house relished performances from consummate musicians, with Jessie Gordon singing, encouraging audience participation and pulling it all together with engaging humour.”
Darlington Review, July 2017“Sassafras is undoubtedly a smooth, well-rehearsed and tightly run ship headed by a sassy great singer…”
Mariyon Slany, Artshub, Feb 1st 2016“The Sassafras instrumentalists excelled throughout the evening, with virtuosic solos and seamless transitions. The acoustic guitar playing from Lachlan Gear and Aaron Deacon was perfect and lovely. Adrian Galante on clarinet (played) some swinging rhythms taking us back to the 1930’s Paris and Pete Jeavons reliable double bass playing shows his great experience.”
Mariyon Slany, Artshub, Feb 1st 2016
“You may already know Sassafras, the local gypsy jazz 5-piece known to play Perth spots like The Playroom and The Ellington. If you don’t, any doubt you have that they play excellent fast, tight and wild swing music will be banished by their Fringeworld act”
Brandon Taylor, The Australia Times, Jan 31st 2016
