This summer we’ve added a series of Thursday night showcases to the Palladium’s line up that feature artists and bands that don’t fit our regular jazz/blues/stand-up comedy formats.
And there’s nobody better to kick off this series than Sarasota’s enigmatic singer, songwriter and swingster Dean Johanesen. I’ve enjoyed Dean’s music since his days with The Human Condition, and he’s made a major name for himself as a singer, songwriter and bandleader. He’s been invited to the top songwriting festivals around the U.S. in recent years.
How to descibe him? I’ll let Lelani Polk of Creative Loafing do it for me:
Dean Johanesen plays acoustic guitar-driven fare with a sonic palette that calls on Spanish rumba-style instrumentals, speakeasy-era Americana, and swinging hot club jazz dosed in circus tent hues. In addition to original material, his sets are studded with perfectly executed covers of songs like Django Reinhardt’s Minor Swing.” – Leilani Polk – Creative Loafing
His show at the Side Door on Thursday, July 11 at 7:30 p.m., is called Dean Johanesen and the 24-Hour Men’s Speakeasy. It feaures Dean and his trio and includes all the elements Leilani listed and more. His music is somehow modern and from another time and best of all, you can dance to it. We’re leaving plenty of room for dancing that night.
And he encourages his audiences to dress up in their best speakeasy attire – however they might interpret that.
When we talked by phone last week, Dean told me the concept grew from his time in the circus capital of Sarasota. Reading the circus novel Water for Elephants led to research on big top history and that research led to new songs with a circus-band feel.
“It got me on the path of bring those stories to life in a sound form. Sort of like a sound track.”
Along with the songs, he mixed lots of elements together for a show that had the feel of a circus side show or a carnival tent.
“People started dressing up. They were swing dancing. At one point I had a juggler and a sword swallower. It all felt like some kind of circus side show.” Dean said.
His influences range from Django Reinhardt to Radiohead. His show swings, but doesn’t really qualify as swing or gypsy jazz. It’s his own creation.
“We do some Django Reinhardt stuff, but we’re not exactly gypsy jazz. Folks will hear Gershwin, Louie Jordon, Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys,” and for sure, some Dean Johanesen.
For tickets and more information, just follow this link.
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