Sassafras

Formed in 2015, Sassafras combines toe-tapping swing, breakneck gypsy classics, 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.

No strangers to the stage at The Kalamunda Performing Arts Centre, Sassafras has a strong connection with Perth's eastern suburbs as all of the groups current members grew up in the Perth hills. Featuring Jessie Gordon (voice), Aaron Deacon & Lachlan Gear (acoustic guitars), Emily Gelineau (violin) and Pete Jeavons (double bass), Sassafras will return to KPAC on Sunday November 12 for an afternoon concert of gypsy jazz, swing and French classics.

You can expect to hear music from composers/artists such as Django Reinhardt, Edith Piaf, Cole Porter, Charles Trenet and Jacques Brel - to name only a few.

Sassafras has sold out numerous shows at The Ellington Jazz Club as well as The Duke of George, Lyric’s Underground, Kidogo Arthouse, The Stirling Arms and more. The band has also featured in a number of festivals including: The Jazz By The Bay Festival (2017, 2019), Perth International Jazz Festival (2017, 2018), Oz Manouche Festival (Brisbane, 2018), King Street Corner Pocket Festival (2018, 2019), Perth Festival (2021), York Festival (2021, 2022) and the WA Guitar Festival (2021).

For seven years in a row, Sassafras also presented a season of shows as part of the Perth Fringeworld Festival (“An Evening in Paris” from 2016-18,"Under Paris Skies" in 2019, “An Evening of Gypsy Swing” in 2020, “Gypsy Jazz Soirée” in 2021 and “Sassafras Swings” in 2022) and the band released their debut, eponymous album in 2021


Review:
" Acoustic gypsy jazz band Sassafras presented a world-class musical performance to the capacity audience that filled (the) Ellington Jazz Club..."
Steve Baitz, Seesaw Mag