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Jitterbug Vipers

“No Musical act embodies the ‘Keep Austin Weird’ civic mantra with more style and class than the ‘swingadelic’ quartet Jitterbug Vipers. The band’s witty updating of classic 1930s reefer jive music, featuring septuagenarian guitar genius Slim Rich front and center, is sly, sophisticated and more than a little habit-forming.” —Downbeat

The Jitterbug Vipers specialize in a beloved cult jazz offshoot called “viper jazz,” a screeching U-Turn back to the party where jazz music packed the dance floor and dazzled the audience with brilliant streams of improvisatory musicianship. This musical heritage pulls from the cherished musicality of Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Fats Waller, Cab Calloway, and Slim Galliard. The four piece’s distinct variety of this smoking intoxicant is known as “swingadelic” for its panoramic aesthetic sprawl. Fusing an authentic command of American roots music with wry wordplay and freewheeling hippie ethos, the Jitterbug Vipers energize and vibrantly reimagine a movement in music long shackled in by nostalgia and overly reverent revivalism.

The Jitterbug Vipers have been building an impressive live show, nearly selling out the prestigious One World Theater. The quartet has also become a festival staple, appearing at Kerrville Folk Festival, Old Settlers Music Fest, and Utopia Fest.

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“No Musical act embodies the “Keep Austin Weird” civic mantra with more style and class than the “swingadelic” quartet Jitterbug Vipers."

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Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Phoebe's Dream

Flying High Records
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Phoebe's dream

Self Produced
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A Viper Just The Same

From: Phoebe's dream
By Jitterbug Vipers

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