Jazz for the masses

Gypsy jazz pop-rockers The Black Market Trust will end POAC’s performing arts season with energetic show at the Panida

By Lyndsie Kiebert-Carey Reader Staff

To say that Los Angeles-based band The Black Market Trust is a jazz band is a disservice. To call it a pop outfit or big band act also doesn’t quite do the job.

In fact, calling The Black Market Trust a traditional-pop-vocal-jazz-bigband enterprise almost feels shallow.

The only way to understand what the well-seasoned five-piece musical group creates is to listen — and to be surprised. Locals will have that chance on Friday, April 21 at the Panida Theater, as The Black Market Trust plays the final show of the Pend Oreille Arts Council’s 2022-’23 Performing Arts Series.

While there are many components in that band’s creative cauldron making up its six-album catalog, two rise to the surface: the gypsy jazz stylings of legendary guitarist Django Reinhardt and the timeless pop classic of the Great American Songbook.

The band’s lead guitarist, Jeffrey Scott Radaich, told the Reader that The Black Market Trust was originally an instrumental gypsy jazz three-piece. He said Reinhardt, a Romani-Belgian musician accompanied by violinist

Stephane Grappelli, was inspired by early-20th century American jazz.

“They wanted to emulate that American jazz but they couldn’t help but wear their European influences on their sleeve,” he said, “which, in turn, created a new sound.”

He said the result is a “fun” jazz — leaning on the vibrant playing of string instruments, completely lacking pretension and appealing to the casual listener.

The Black Market Trust spent its first year sticking strictly to instrumental gypsy jazz, but Radaich said there was something lacking.

“We were having a blast, but we were missing the ability to communicate to the audience with the human voice,” he said. “Musicians always joke about crowds being more entertained watching a mediocre singer than the world’s greatest guitarist but, it’s true. The emotion of the human voice is something that everyone can understand.”

The Black Market Trust

Friday, April 21; doors at 6:30 p.m., music starts at 7:30 p.m.; $28 adults, $10 youth. Panida Theater, 300 N. First Ave., 208263-9191, panida.org. Get tickets online at artinsandpoint. org or at the POAC office, 110 Main St., Ste. 101. Listen at theblackmarkettrust.com.

The Black Market Trust is now known for its stirring and energetic renditions of many classic pop numbers, drawing inspiration from Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Dean Martin and even more contemporary artists like The Beach Boys and The Beatles.

“We said, ‘Let’s not try and hide anything about us and our musical past or influences,’” Radaich recalled. “‘Let’s throw everything in there.’”

The Black Market Trust has since grown to feature five world-class musicians: Radaich, as well as bassist Brian Netzley, drummer Brandon Laws, violinist Nick Coventry and the band’s newest member, pianist Matt Politano, who will visit Sandpoint on his first tour with the band.

As part of their time in North Idaho, members of The Black Market Trust will partake in POAC’s Ovations education outreach program, meeting with local students to talk about their music.

“It never ceases to amaze me how curious and interested in music kids are,” Radaich said, adding later: “Our pianist, Matt, discovered music from an outreach at his school when he was young, so he is really looking forward to ‘paying it forward’ and hopefully inspiring the next generation.”

A snapshot of notable live music coming up in Sandpoint

Alanna Dixon, MCS Recital, April 13 Athena Crossingham, Pend d’Oreille Winery, April 26

Since it opened in 2009, the Music Conservatory of Sandpoint has continued to bring culture and beautiful music to Sandpoint.

For its latest event, MCS will feature a voice recital presented by high school senior Alanna Dixon, who will graduate from the conservatory this summer. Dixon has studied voice with Brenda Rutledge and piano with Melody Puller for five years, as well as singing with the ensemble choir. Her repertoire includes lieder, arias and duets from composers such as Debussy, Schubert, Mendelssohn and Puccini among others.

The voice recital will be open to the public and is free to attend, but reserved seats are recommended as the limited space at the MCS Little Carnegie fills up quickly.

— Ben Olson

7 p.m., FREE. Little Carnegie Hall at MCS, 110 Main St., 208-265-4444. For questions or to reserve seating, please email mcs@sandpointconservatory.org.

The grand piano at the Pend d’Oreille Winery is a storied instrument. Built by the celebrated Decker Brothers company of New York sometime between 1869 and 1870 out of Brazilian rosewood, it has been played by various people — from famous to local performers — since at least the 1920s.

Now it’s homegrown Sandpoint pianist Athena Crossingham’s turn at the keys, filling the tasting room at the winery Wednesday, April 26 with the fruits of her long study of piano — including a degree in the instrument from Corban University, participation in national piano conferences, career as a piano teacher, and performances at solo and ensemble festivals.

— Zach Hagadone

6-7 p.m., FREE. Pend d’Oreille Winery, 301 Cedar St., 208-265-8545, powine.com.