It’s a beautiful summer afternoon, and Fort Hill Brewery in Easthampton is packed. Some of the crowd sit indoors, soaking up the air conditioning, eyes focused on the World Cup dominating the television screens on the wall. Others are outside enjoying the jazz sounds of the western Massachusetts-based group Periscope Jazz, who are providing the perfect soundtrack for a relaxing afternoon.
The quartet plays tunes by jazz legends like Sonny Rollins and Louis Armstrong, mixed with a couple of originals, and even offers up their interpretation of “Ode to Billie Joe,” the ‘60s folk-pop hit. They take turns soloing and improvising, establishing an interesting musical conversation with each other. For their second set, they brought in a few guests, including vocalist Kate Nicolau and trumpet player Don Andersen, further enhancing their sound.
Periscope Jazz, which is known for putting their own spin on classic standards and writing memorable originals that range from Neo-Soul to Latin-inspired bebop, has a busy summer ahead. The band is launching what could be called a mini taproom tour of Franklin County this weekend, beginning with Floodwater Brewing, 40 State St. in Shelburne Falls on Saturday, July 4 at 7 p.m. Next weekend, they will be playing at the Brewery at Four Star Farms, 508 Pine Meadow Road in Northfield on Saturday, July 11 at 6 p.m.
Periscope Jazz is made up of Perry Friedman of Florence on keyboards, Jon Oltman of South Deerfield on bass and occasional vocals, Bruce Kelley of Easthampton on drums and Rick Page of Greenfield on saxophone, clarinet and flute. And, as with the show at Fort Hill Brewery, they occasionally feature guest artists.
“Our music is mostly from the ‘jazz standard’ repertoire, covering tunes written from the ‘30s through the ‘70s, but we also do some pop and rock crossovers, and we are fortunate to have a keyboardist who has been writing more tunes himself,” said Oltman in a recent email describing the band’s sound.
All four members have rich and varied musical backgrounds and have played, and continue to play, in various other bands throughout the Valley — and they don’t limit themselves to playing only jazz. You may have heard of the band members playing in bands such as Rescue Lola, Bok Choy Quartet, Carol Devine and the Mighty Fine, The Riverbenders, and Trailer Park.
“As I’m sure you know, there is a large community of people in our area who like to play jazz,” Oltman said. “And my guess is there are more people who like to listen to it! We all cycle around through different groups, different configurations, jam sessions, etc. I was in Bruce’s band Bok Choy Orchestra back in the ‘90s, and I was in Juke Joint Jazz with Perry shortly after that.”
Periscope Jazz got its start around the time of the COVID-19 lockdown, when the music scene, not only for jazz but in general, was very slow. Oltman wasn’t playing steadily with any particular band at that time, so it made sense to try to start one.
“I contacted Bruce and Perry about forming a band, and we began playing jazz standards in Bruce’s attic studio. This eventually morphed into the band Periscope,” Oltman explained. “The name is a play on words, after the Bill Evans tune ‘Peri’s Scope’ which we are fond of, and also — although he likes to deny it — as a nod to our piano player.”
He added that one of their ideas was to be a solid core, a rhythm section that could back up other musicians as soloists.
“Bruce knew Rick (Trailer Park), and he joined us at practices. The chemistry seemed good, and this became the current band,” Oltman said. “Whenever possible, we invite other players to share the stage for parts of our shows, which keeps the music fresher and more interesting.”
Periscope Jazz has played at restaurants, listening rooms, festivals and breweries all over the Valley.
“Breweries seem to be our mainstay,” Oltman said. “As you know, a venue like a brewery or restaurant — or any other commercial enterprise — has to consider how much revenue it’s getting when a particular band plays there. We have been fortunate in that we generally get very positive responses from our audiences, which then translates into good feedback to the venue — and hopefully more sales for them as well!”
“Many people aren’t looking to hear jazz when they go out, and they may not really know the music that well. I think we’re tight enough and put enough energy into the music that it makes an impression, even on people who aren’t jazz fans,” Oltman said.
Other upcoming summer dates include Four Phantoms Brewing Company, 301 Wells St. in Greenfield on July 31 at 6:30 p.m., and a return to the Brewery at Four Star Farms on Aug. 15 at 3 p.m.
These brewery shows are free, but tips for the musicians are always appreciated. For more information visit Periscopejazz.com.
Music on the Fourth of July
As you probably noticed, Periscope Jazz is playing at Floodwater Brewing Company on the Fourth of July. Berkshire Brewing Company, 12 Railroad St. in South Deerfield, is also open on the holiday, and Ashley Rhodes will be on hand to provide music beginning at 5 p.m. Rhodes, of Orange, plays a mix of folk, pop and rock, originals and select covers from the ‘60s to today. She is especially inspired by the musicians of the Lilith Fair and enjoys performing their music. A graduate of the Berklee College of Music, Rhodes released an EP, called “Unravel,” in 2024.
As a reminder, the Greenfield Fireworks will hold its annual celebration at Beacon Field on Sunday, July 5, beginning at 4 p.m. Among the musical performers are blues and R&B singer Janet Ryan and Straight Up, as well as Americana rockers Well Suited. This event is free. The rain date is Monday, July 6. Additionally, Torie Jock and Damage Control will be at the Deja Brew Cafe and Pub, 57 Lockes Village Road in Wendell, for a special pre-Fourth of July party on Friday, July 3 at 8 p.m.
Sheryl Hunter is a freelance writer who resides in Easthampton. Her work has appeared in various regional and national publications. She can be reached at Soundslocal@yahoo.com.