Birch Pereira & The Gin Joints w/ Sundae + Mr. Goessl
The Triple Door, Seattle, WA
03.11.18
From the moment I walked into The Triple Door, a jazz trio was jamming in the Musicquarium, and people were dressed to the nines as though headed for a Sinatra show at the Sands. It had the makings of a swinging affair with Sundae + Mr. Goessl and Birch Pereira and the Gin Joints celebrating a double release party for their respective albums When You’re Smiling and Western Soul.
The night began with a little vignette of Sundae (Kate Voss) and Mr. Goessl (Jason Goessl) arriving at the venue, set to the Louis Prima classic, “When You’re Smiling,” a perfect and playful start to their perky set. Voss was vintage from her hair to her shoes. She really evoked the era of the big band vocalist during songs like “A Wink and a Smile” and “My Blue Heaven.” Goessl provided top-notch support with his smooth strokes on the guitar. Comparable to John Pizzarelli, he threw in a bit of pizzicato to go along with his refined phrases.
Voss didn’t just sing, she also told jokes. “What do you call Batman when he skips out on church? Christian Bale. Get it?” Anyways, their album of classics with a few originals is a crowd pleaser and will make you want to put on your dancing shoes.
Birch Pereira and the Gin Joints are cultivating quite the following in the Seattle jazz scene. That is the misconception of Birch and the gang, they are not just jazz. He and the band are quite agile in performing different genres, such as country, rockabilly, 1920’s jazz, and rock. His cover of “That’s Alright Mama” by Elvis combines his subtle jazz vocals with its rockabilly roots.
The night was the launch for Western Soul, a tribute to all the genres—from country to soul to everything in between. Pereira’s 7-piece band of talented musicians and singers (which included Kate Voss on backup vocals) did not miss a beat and were tighter than a Boy Scout knot. They pivoted from a country ballad like “Lonesome Town” to Benny Goodman-esque jazz with the Fats Waller cover of “Lulu’s Back in Town.”
Pereira’s voice has a Harry Connick Jr. quality, but a bit more tender. He doesn’t need much to convey feeling or intensity, as it is written on his face. The highlight of the night was the first track of his new album, “How Long (Until I See The Sun Again?)”. An upbeat rockabilly tune that is bit more rock than billy, it got the crowd dancing in their booths, like a halcyon song relevant in the present.
The Triple Door was the perfect setting as the performers evoked the style and feeling of a classic night of dinner and music. The only thing missing was an actual dance floor, which I guarantee would have been filled.
Review and photos by Phillip Johnson
Birch Pereira & The Gin Joints
Sundae + Mr. Goessl
