Pine Street Jazz

Pine Street Jazz is an instrumental sextet based in Burlington, Vermont. Formed in 1998, the band performs selections drawn from the mainstream of American jazz plus a number of original tunes composed by members of the group.

The band plays works by many of the genre's greatest composers, including Duke Ellington, Miles Davis, Thelonious Monk and Charles Mingus. Their repertoire also includes swing, bebop, Latin, funk, blues and ballads, plus a number of original tunes composed by members of the group. With an ensemble sound often described as "smooth," "tight" and "swinging," PSJ prides itself in dusting off lesser-known tunes and presenting them in a new and different light.

Pine Street Jazz draws its name from the location where the band first began to rehearse on a regular basis in June 1998. The fledgling ensemble made its first appearance at that year's South End Art Hop.

When vocalist Johanna Lawrence came on board in 1999 the band began to hone its singer-backing chops. In July 2002 owner Jip Jotikasthira invited the group to perform every Wednesday at her Burlington restaurant, Parima, inaugurating what was to become a successful four-year run.

After Johanna moved to Hawaii that Spring, PSJ began inviting other singers to share the bandstand, and soon developed a regular rotation of the area's top jazz vocalists, a concept that came to be called "The Singers' Circle."

Working with these talented and diverse artists has been a great pleasure for the band and a delightful bonus for audiences. Pine Street Jazz has been honored to share the stage with Jody Albright, Amber deLaurentis, Allison Mann, Juliet McVicker, Taryn Noelle, Susan Squier, Matt Wright, and the Blue Gardenias (vocal trio).

In June 2006 the band relocated to the Lincoln Inn in Essex Junction, where it performed every Sunday until September 2009. The bar at the Lincoln Inn was eventually leased and reopened as On Tap Bar & Grill and the band began performing there once a month in March of 2010. With only a few brief interruptions and an occasional change of venue, Pine Street Jazz has maintained a regular, ongoing (weekly or monthly) performance schedule for almost ten years.

In addition to clubs and restaurants, Pine Street Jazz is popular at community concerts and festivals around the region. The band has made repeat appearances at the Burlington Discover Jazz Festival, FlynnSpace, Vermont Symphony Orchestra Waltz Night, Castleton Concert on the Green Series, Shelburne Parks & Recreation Summer Concert Series, Church Street MarketFest, Maple Tree Place Groovin' on the Green Summer Concert Series, and more.

The music created by this talented ensemble is also perfect for weddings, civil unions, parties, dances, and corporate events. Pine Street Jazz pulls from its extensive repertoire and works with organizers and promoters to provide the music that's appropriate for your event. The group has been praised for being both affordable and easy to work with.

Pine Street Jazz has produced several tribute or 'themed' concerts that have proven to be extremely popular and highly successful. The band has presented several two- to three-hour tribute programs devoted to the music of Duke Ellington, Miles Davis, Thelonious Monk, Horace Silver, and Ray Charles. Pine Street Jazz always invites the opportunity or challenge to create something that ties into a festival theme or historic date.