How lucky we are to have these young cats swinging out for us! Those of us who can get to Radegast know what I mean — the delicious combination of hot music among friends, with a side order of swing dancing, uplifting food and drink.
If you’ve never been to Radegast, it is well worth the trip — a spiritual oasis of its own singular kind, where the ambient music is often Sidney Bechet, Walter Page, and Jonah Jones. The Radegast Hall and Biergarten — to give it its formal appellation — is located at 113 North 3rd Street Brooklyn, NY 11211 — parking is easy at night. Click here to see their schedule of hot bands.
Here are four performances from Wednesday, April 18, 2012 — to lift you up and get you in the groove in the best way. The Elevators are Gordon Au, trumpet, compositions, arrangements; Matt Musselman, trombone; Dennis Lichtman, clarinet; Peter Maness, string bass; Davy Mooney, guitar; Tamar Korn, vocal.
Let’s start with a genuine Thirties love song written by Gordon Au in the twenty-first century, SOMEHOW THE WORLD HAS TURNED UPSIDE-DOWN, with vocalizing by Tamar:
Then, a sweetly romping 1931 favorite — uplifting even if you put stevia in your latte: WHEN I TAKE MY SUGAR TO TEA:
A spicy Latin-flavored MUSKRAT RAMBLE:
And an encouragement to be candid. IT’S A SIN TO TELL A LIE, you know:
Good deal!
These musicians are playing gigs all over — so be sure to get on their email lists / websites / Facebook pages to keep up with them. The people who lament the aging audience for jazz, the sad necrology of the music . . . come hear this band: they are the past, present, future rolling on!
May your happiness increase.