12/18/2023
Performances and Artists
Globally acclaimed band The Hot Sardines focuses on rollicking, vintage jazz tunes of the early 20th century, so some might assume their musical options are limited. But it’s just the opposite, says Elizabeth Bougerol, frontwoman and cofounder of the group.
Building on the vivacious band’s hit albums and sold-out performances worldwide, The Hot Sardines continue to expand and experiment with their spirited, horn-infused sounds – with their latest efforts dipping further into world music and the hits of yesteryear.
“Even though we’re rooted in traditional jazz, we’re inspired by all of the early 20th-century pop music — don’t forget that jazz was just pop at the time — and we feel like we’ve just scratched the surface,” Bougerol says, adding that the group will soon debut a new show at Carnegie Hall.
The show will feature the group’s full, eight-piece band, including its three-piece brass section and a tap dancer. Together, The Hot Sardines will deliver an electrifying sound that continues to pack venues worldwide.
“What’s so gratifying is being reminded how universal this music is — to go from Toronto to Tokyo and have people get excited about a song that, say, Billie Holiday performed nearly 100 years ago,” Bougerol says. “Music makes the world a tiny place.”
Inspiration from Surprising Sources
The upcoming concert will showcase a dazzling range of musical influences, Bougerol promises.
The group’s latest album spans Brazilian jazz, all-new originals and the bouncy, swinging stylings of jazz manouche — an acoustic-rooted jazz style popularized by legendary guitarist Django Reinhardt.
Even of attendees aren’t familiar with those genres, they should enjoy a party of sound. “It’s just joyful music,” Bougerol says. “A big brass section blowing live, (with) furiously percussive piano … you can feel that in your bones.”
The show will also include nods to greats such as Cole Porter, Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong, Bougerol adds. And the band will even provide a sneak peek of its upcoming Carnegie Hall show, focused entirely on music from the Weimar Republic, a period of German history immediately following World War I.
“(This was) when American jazz crossed the ocean and inspired young Germans in the face of oppression,” she says.
From a Whim to Worldwide Tours
Bougerol takes pride in how far The Hot Sardines has come, considering she and co-founder Evan Palazzo created the band “on a whim.”
The pair met at an open jam session in 2008 in New York City and bonded over their shared passion for throwback jazz. When they began busking with their old-world sounds, other talented musicians eagerly joined in.
Thhat led to a record deal, allowing Palazzo and Bougerol to quit their jobs in real estate and writing and become full-time musicians.
“It’s grown in ways we could never have anticipated,” Bougeral says. “I think this is music that makes people feel connected.”
SEE THE SHOW
The Hot Sardines perform at Myron’s at 7 p.m. on January 25 and 26 – for tickets, CLICK HERE.