Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen – 2013

The Hot Sardines

Inventive hot jazz plus a tap dancer

The Hot Sardines is an unusual swing-based group based in New York.

Founded in 2007 by singer Elizabeth Bougerol and pianist Evan Palazzo, the Sardines started to catch on in 2010, grew to becoming an octet and normally performing at least 100 shows a year.

While swing and hot jazz are their foundation, they also stretch their music in several different areas, towards pop, French music, and klezmer, consistently putting on entertaining shows that often include a tap dancer.

“Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen” was originally a hit for the Andrews Sisters in the late 1930s and has been a standard ever since.

The Hot Sardines at the time of this spirited performance consisted of Ms. Bouerol, Palazzo, cornetist Jason Prover, trombonist Joe McDonough, clarinetist Peter Anderson (whose playing during this piece is strongly influenced by klezmer music), guitarist Nick Russo, bassist Kevin Hseith, and drummer Justin Hines.

-Scott Yanow