Award-winning Austin, Texas-based Hot Club of Cowtown may be the world’s most globe-trotting, effervescent string trio, who’s joyful sound blends the traditional Western swing of the 1940s American southwest with European hot jazz influences of the same era.
2024 marks three decades since guitarist Whit Smith and violinist Elana James met through a classified ad in the music section of New York City’s legendary alternative newspaper, the Village Voice. A few years later Jake Irwin was added as Bass player and Hot Club of Cowtown was born. And thirty years on, they continue to surprise and delight with their trademark “arsenal full of technique and joy,” Jon Caramanica, New York Times.
They have perfected a truly unique and infectious hybrid that playfully blurs musical boundaries, conjuring the spirit of both Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys and jazz legend Django Reinhardt.