Functionizin by The Bridgetown Sextet

FUNCTIONIZIN TRACKLIST & AUDIO

The Bridgetown Sextet, Portland’s most authentic and raucous vintage jazz band, celebrates their 15th year with “Functionizin’”, a new LP/CD of 1920s and 30s hot jazz and swing on Rivermont Records

 
 
BACK TO THE RECORDS

PRESS

“The Bridgetown Sextet’s new album release “Stomp, Defined” is the quintessential representation for the vintage jazz and swing renaissance exploding across the globe. […] What sets The Bridgetown Sextet apart as arguably the most talented vintage hot jazz and swing ensemble in the Pacific Northwest is their ability to not only harness, but intensify the unbridled energy of their musical antecedents.”
Jon Taylor, SwingPortland.com

“[The Bridgetown Sextet] swan dives into the authentic sound of the 1920s, ’30s, and ’40s with a mix of New Orleans jazz, Prohibition-era Chicago, Harlem Stride piano and big-city swing. Led by young Portland jazz lions Andrew Oliver and Scott Kennedy, this band will curl your toes.”
The Oregonian

“Scott Kennedy and Andrew Oliver are almost punk-rock in their attitude about Traditional Jazz and bringing back it’s visceral nature.”
Matt Fleeger, Director, KMHD Jazz Radio

“Retro-gazing is always a dicey proposition, running the risk of being precious, irrelevant, or, usually, both. But the Bridgetown Sextet pulls off their time-travel whimsy by emphasizing musical chops rather than mutton chops. Their tunes are the work of fantastic players, boasting excellent stride piano from both Scott Kennedy and Andrew Oliver (who also each do double duty on drums), strict tempo from guitarist Doug Sammons and bassist Eric Gruber, and just the right shade of sassafras from John Moak on trombone and David Evans on clarinet and sax. Their new album, The New Old Fashioned, ably captures this combustible energy.”
The Portland Mercury

“America may have outlawed the sale of booze in the 1920s and early ’30s, but that only made the music swing, sway, jump and jive that much harder than when imbibing beer was legal. If you want to get a feel for what the Land of the Free sounded like when Jelly rolled and Armstrong growled, . . . check out The Bridgetown Sextet.”
The Portland Tribune

“Favorites of Portland’s swing dancing scene, this is a band that knows how to get the feet flying, thanks to the pumping piano and dapper drums of co-founders Andrew Oliver and local Harlem stride specialist Scott Kennedy.
Willamette Week

REVIEWS

ALBUM REVIEW. FUNCTIONIZIN 2024
..coming soon