River Alexander’s MAD JAZZ HATTERS deliver a vibrant madcap mix of Hot Speakeasy Jazz and Jubilant Jugband Fervor straight out of the teens and 20’s. River Alexander (Alexander Tobias) founded the band in 2003, creating the name MAD JAZZ HATTERS with inspiration from the zany enthusiasm of Lewis Caroll’s “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland”, replete with such wonderful characters as the Mad Hatter. They are on the scene with soulful vocals, clarinet, guitar, chromatic harmonica, tin whistle, bass and various other instruments. When upbeat dirges on the jaw harp, and spirited original song enter the fray, it becomes a kaleidescopic mix of roaring 20’s exuberance, rural gutbucket soul and dreamtime journey. River Alexander’s MAD JAZZ HATTERS ignite the dance floor and stir the soul.
Imagine the diverse flavours of early Bing Crosby, Tin Pan Alley and Nick Drake. Add in some sweet strains of old New Orleans, the Carter family and the Mississippi Sheiks. Now turn towards composers like Gershwin, Berlin, Hoagy Carmichael and Fats Waller. Throw in some curios and strays of Gaelic, Klezmer and Yiddish melody for good measure. With an incredible bounce to their music, the River Alexander’s MAD JAZZ HATTERS take you back to where the music all began, breathing seeds of life and originality into everything they play.
Photo by Henry Chan (Henryshoots.com)
