Jazz for the masses

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-big-band 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.

The Black Market Trust. Courtesy photo.

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 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.”

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., 208-263-9191, panida.org. Get tickets online at artinsandpoint.org or at the POAC office, 110 Main St., Ste. 101. Listen at theblackmarkettrust.com.