Equipped with ornate outfits, outstanding professionalism, truly unique renditions of classic songs and a penchant for defying expectations, Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox celebrated their 10 year anniversary in style during their appearance in Seattle on Monday, Nov. 11.
PMJ first gained notability from their viral 1920s jazz style renditions of classic songs. After a couple hit videos, PMJ quickly turned into an exuberant rotating cast of band members led by New York jazz artist Scott Bradlee. Now celebrating 10 years since their first YouTube video, PMJ performed at Seattle’s Benaroya Hall exuding confidence and showmanship.
Rogelio Douglas Jr., the self-proclaimed emcee for the concert, led the charge in leu of an appearance from Bradlee. His animated and expressive movements, as well as immense vocal prowess made him a perfect host for the show.
With appearances from multiple masterful musicians, and an unfaltering band, Douglas Jr. did a great job at making the show feel organized and digestible.
From their sequined outfits to the classy stage decor, the night was as visually impressive as it was vocally impressive. Nowhere was their showmanship more palpable than the inclusion of tap dancer Demi Remick. Her tap solos on songs like Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” made for a fun break in the cover songs, she truly shined during the segments dedicated entirely to performance.
At one point, she tap danced for multiple minutes to a medley of songs from the various The Legend of Zelda Games, songs that the majority of the audience was likely not familiar with. Given the amount of gray heads bobbing and swaying in the auditorium, it was obvious the age of the crowd skewed on the older side.
In fact, when PMJ would perform songs like Dua Lipa’s “Levitate” or experts from The Legend of Zelda, it was easy to question if the crowd was even familiar with the tracks. Upon inquiry, it was clear that was the case.
“The only Taylor Swift songs I know are because of PMJ,” audience member Shannon Hawffaker said.
In the end, showmanship and performance acumen became more important than recognizability. The various singers, as well the band, did a great job at crafting a captivating experience.
.
The sultry Tawanda Suessbrich-Joaquim, a lifelong jazz singer and winner of the 2022 Sarah Vaughan Vocal Jazz competition, managed to immediately direct attention to her anytime she arrived on stage. Her entertaining rendition of The Spice Girls’ “Say You’ll Be There” was a highlight of the show.
Eva Mikhailovna managed to sound both adorable and impactful at the same time with her performance of Harry Styles’ “Late Night Talking.”
Effie Passero, who once made it to the top 24 finalists on season 16 of American Idol, belted a powerful rendition of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah,” which demonstrated her immense vocal range and had the audience standing while they applauded.
Perhaps the most exciting performance was the surprise reveal of Ray Moore. Hidden behind the drum set for most of the show, his remarkably tight jazz grooves were all he needed to bring to the stage. Still, his sudden introduction to the microphone led to a truly beautiful rendition of Soundgarden’s “Black Hole Sun”.
Though playing a style of music most commonly associated with having a big band, the five piece group managed to deliver a sound big enough to fill the auditorium. Every member got a time to shine, showcasing their jazz performance prowess. They made it quite clear they can play a whole lot more than pop music covers. That being said, the guitarist and bassist would occasionally switch to far more modern looking instruments than the standing bass and hollow body guitars that tied the look together. It is understandable from a musical perspective that they would have to switch to more modern looking instruments, however, there are certainly color options that would have better complemented the stage aesthetic.
Nit picking aside, the set list felt questionable. In any normal tour it would be a fantastic set, but a 10 year anniversary show implied that the group may revisit some of their classic hits. Renditions of Radiohead’s “Creep” and The White Stripes’ “Seven Nation Army” were sorely missed.
All in all, PMJ used showmanship to bolster the already fantastic musical performances they are so renowned for and put on a memorable show.
