The Cedar and Sound Unseen Festival present The New Standards with James Buckley Trio

Jazz trio the New Standards takes pop and rock tunes then strips them down and juices them back up with vocals, piano, bass and totally cool vibes. It's a bit quirky, but it works. THE NEW YORK POST.

The New Standards are John Munson (of Trip Shakespeare and multi-platinum Semisonic) on bass, Chan Poling (founder of the seminal 80’s haute-punk-pop group The Suburbs) on piano, and Steve Roehm (Billygoat, Electropolis) on vibes. This unique minimalist trio was formed in 2005 by three friends and consummate performers with the idea of playing their favorite songs unplugged, but with the opportunity to enhance the inherent attributes of the tunes with as wide a range of interpretation as they saw fit: from the plainest rendition to an all out swinging nuttiness. With their natty suits and their unique jazz, rock, soul and pop chops, The New Standards tell each song’s story in singular style.
The New Standards' most recent release Rock and Roll (produced by Dan Wilson) follows up their eponymous debut. Focusing more on favorite rock tracks this time, the trio gives the new set a workout that is by turns fiery, soulful, stark and dark. The group lays bare the lovely bones of songs like "Maps" by The Yeah Yeah Yeahs and “Such Great Heights” by The Postal Service while swinging through modern punky classics like The Replacements "Androgynous," The Velvet Underground's "Rock and Roll" and The Clash's "London Calling.” Fans of the band will be happy to finally hear recordings of their arrangements of "Hey Ya" by Outkast and Britney Spear’s "Toxic."
The New Standards are regulars at Joe’s Pub at The Public Theater in New York City and have been featured in The New York Times and been pick-of-the-week in Time Out/New York, they’ve played Europe and China, and in their hometown Minneapolis/St. Paul regularly sell out their Dakota Jazz Club multiple show stands as well as the 1000+ seat Fitzgerald Theater in St, Paul with their Annual New Standards Christmas Show.

Opening tonight will be  James Buckley and his trio, comprising JT Bates on drums and Bryan Nichols on piano. Cohesive and yet free-ranging, the trio recently released their second album, Knowing and Losing.

Tickets are on sale now from Cedar Ticketline (612-338-2674 ext 2), Cedar outlets, and online at Ticketweb.
$25