Sassafras at The Duke

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. For this special performance at The Duke of George on Friday December 9th the band will feature Jessie Gordon (voice), Pete Jeavons (double bass), Aaron Deacon & Lachlan Gear (acoustic guitars) and Emily Gelineau (violin).

Emily Gelineau is an Australian composer, arranger, instrumentalist, vocalist and music educator. Classically trained on Piano and Violin from the age of 3, she is a creative modern musician who is known for playing and interpreting many styles of music from jazz to pop, rock, world styles, and the classical western-art tradition. No stranger to the stage at the Duke of George, Emily has already featured as a special guest with Sassafras Quartet on a number of occasions, as well as having performed shows under her own name too.

Emily’s nimble violin and versatile musicianship fits neatly with Sassafras, affording fans a different take on the bands familiar repertoire. You can expect to hear music from Django Reinhardt, Stephane Grapelli, Edith Piaf, Cole Porter, Charles Trenet and Jacques Brel (to name only a few).

Sassafras has sold out numerous shows at The Duke of George, as well as The Ellington Jazz Club, Lyric’s Underground, Kidogo Arthouse, The Stirling Arms, The Kalamunda Performing Arts Centre 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 has 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.