Sassafras Trio at Caves House

Sassafras Trio combines toe-tapping swing, breakneck gypsy jazz 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. Repertoire features classics from the likes of Django Reinhardt, Birelli Lagrene, Gonzalo Bergara and Les Doigts Des L’Homme (to name a few) plus original arrangements of jazz standards and some original compositions too, all with a progressive leaning.

Sassafras Trio have performed at numerous venues around Perth (such as P’tite Ardoise Bistro, Freo Social, The Moon Cafe among others) and also at WA festivals including The Bonjour French Festival (2016), Jazz By The Bay (2017) The King Street Corner Pocket Festival (2018), WA Guitar Festival (2021) and The York Festival (2021, 2022).

Additionally the Trio has performed many sold out shows as a part of the larger Sassafras groups (Quartet and Quintet) at venues such as The Ellington Jazz Club, The Duke of George and The Kalamunda Performing Arts Centre and festivals including Jazz By The Bay (2019), Perth International Jazz Festival (2017), The Oz Manouche Festival (Brisbane, 2018) and The Perth Festival (2021).

“Despite their small acoustic make up the three-piece provided a driving rhythm section, intricate solo work and sweetly lyrical melodies… the room was crowded with an enthusiastic audience and no one wanted it to end.” Rosalind Appleby, Noted, July 6th 2018

“The (Perth) International Jazz Festival is a serious affair… there was, however, a moment of joyous gypsy style jazz from Sassafras, a local group who took the audience on a pleasure-filled journey, aided by brilliant gypsy guitarists…” Ron Banks, The West Australian Newspaper, June 2017