Local Review: Flamingo — Pink Paradise

Flamingo
Pink Paradise
Self-Released
Street: 05.22.2026
Flamingo = Kermit Ruffins + Michael Bublé

All right, jazz cats, here’s a new one for you! Flamingo, a six-piece jazz band from Salt Lake City, is back with another original album recorded live: Pink Paradise. The band describes it as “a sunset trip through jazz-drenched tropics,” and after experiencing the album, I say this is a completely apt description. This is the perfect jazz to listen to on golden summer vacation nights.

The tracks of the album oscillate through a range of styles, from Flamingo’s staple New Orleans jazz to blues to soul to Cuban jazz. Each member of the band shines, both in chorus and in their absolutely fire solos: Parker Andreezi on trumpet, Matt Morrison on drums, Kenny Fong on saxophone, Christian Lucy on keyboard and jazz organ, Aidan Woodward on bass and Jake Chamberlain on vocals. All the songs have lyrics, but rather than taking too much of the spotlight, Chamberlain’s voice is an equal instrument in the line-up. He sounds similar to Michael Bublé in tone, but he alters his style to match each song.

The melodies are catchy and danceable. A few of them even got stuck in my head after only one listen, which is a feat. The highlights of the album for me were “California Light,” “She’s Got That Thing,” “The Ghostly Trumpet Player,” “Down South” and “Nights in Key Largo” (yes, I realize I just named half the album). “California Light” surprised me with its funk and smashing drums. It’s the song that made me realize these guys know exactly what they’re doing. They move skillfully from style to style without muddling the music.

The jazz organ ended up being one of my favorite aspects of the album. Lucy’s keyboard skill accentuates the melody of “She’s Got That Thing,” which also features a sultry saxophone solo by Fong. This song works so well with its lyrics that if I didn’t know it was an original composition, I would assume it was a jazz classic. From what I’ve gathered, “She’s Got That Thing” is highly popular among the audience at Flamingo’s live performances – and for good reason.

“The Ghostly Trumpet Player” is full of New Orleans’ haunted air, with the bass entering alone and the drums leaning fully into the city’s jazz style. I wish I’d had this song on my playlist when I went to New Orleans last year, because it definitely puts the listener right there on the streets of the French Quarter. Another song in this style is “Down South,” which had me bobbing my head and was the most replete with solos, the band members taking turns knocking socks off.

My favorite track is “Nights in Key Largo,” which has a minor tango feel with a great beat and abrupt pauses. Lucy’s piano was the star of this one, the notes effortlessly waterfalling with delicate precision and flow while Woodward’s bass plucked so hard that the vibrations overlapped soundwaves in my headphones.

I think I’ll be playing Pink Paradise all summer long. It’s the ultimate jazz soundtrack for your pink-sunset outdoor get-togethers with friends. Play it in the car as you drive with the windows down through the city – or better yet, go see Flamingo live. They play Wednesdays at Lake Effect, and now that I’ve heard the album, I’m super tempted to pop in!

You can follow Flamingo on Instagram @flamingojazz_  to see where they’re playing and also to appreciate their dreamy, pink aesthetic. —Rebekah Bowman

Read more about the jazz scene swinging in SLC:
Local Review: Flamingo — The Flamboyance
The Music is Hoppin’ at Hopkins

To help SLUG continue putting the spotlight on local bands and music, consider becoming one of our donors!