Localized: Flamingo

Are you dressed to the nines, craving a fusion of hot styles and even hotter sounds? Look no further than SLUG Localized. Watch as Kilby Court transforms to a fashion week catwalk, strutting out fierce looks from some of Utah’s best local fashion designers. Once you’re damning those heels, sit back and relax to a heavenly blend of jazz and hip hop with local legends Flamingo and Icky Rogers. Set your calendar for Thursday, September 24 and get ready to hit the runway! Purchase your tickets today!

Taking on a six-piece jazz band struck me as intimidating, but as I crept down the steps of Lake Effect, the site was nothing less than graceful and pleasant. Flamingo restores and values what I believe are the best parts of jazz: classiness, artistry and style. The group consists of Jake Chamberlin (vocals), Parker Andrezzi (trumpet), Sam Shultz (bass), Matt Morrison (drums), Kenny Fong (saxophone) and Christian Lucy (piano).

Flamingo began as a group in 2021 to perform old-school jazz and blues weekly at Salt Lake City’s Lake Effect, and it’s now grown into something much bigger — a legitimate band with records and shows.

While the band is labeled as “jazz,” they blend a fresh modernization of pop and other genres into their tracks. While jazz music can be targeted to a specific audience, they aim to reach a broad spectrum and show the audience this can be for anyone. “Jazz can be kind of daunting, and what we wanted to do is have anyone that wandered into one of our shows enjoy what we were doing and get a little bit of the massive history that this style of music has and just kind of bring our own flavor, put a little hot sauce on it,” Chamberlin says.

“There’s a lot of variety on the album, and I think that was kind of cool to do some really cool, slower, piano-heavy ballads but then also do some stuff that’s like pop.”

Each member brings an influence of their own into the music, and I think that’s what makes the group work so well. While some have a background in jazz, others don’t, and being able to blend a technical side into a creative one is very special. Chamberlin’s vocals bring sunshine on top of the catchy and groovy compositions. They released their full-length album, Pink Paradise, this past May and gave each member a place to showcase their talents.

“It was cool to bring in all of our different genres and influences. There’s a lot of variety on the album, and I think that was kind of cool to do some really cool, slower, piano-heavy ballads but then also do some stuff that’s like pop. We got to do our own thing,” Morrison says.

In five years of playing downtown, there have been some pretty memorable nights from body-to-body crowds, swing dancers, impressive improvisation — the list goes on. “Seeing them live is a whole other experience, and shockingly energetic,” says Kim Kienow, partner of Chamberlin. “These guys let loose in a very invigorating way. They’re fully themselves; there’s no holding back.”

“Like, it’s really crazy that we can play shows every Wednesday and people come. After years of doing that, it’s pretty amazing.”

The band is grateful for their ongoing shows at Lake Effect and has nothing but love for their audience. “Everyone’s been so supportive. Like, it’s really crazy that we can play shows every Wednesday and people come. After years of doing that, it’s pretty amazing. We’re so thankful,” Chamberlin says.

Moving ahead, Flamingo is still enjoying the great success of releasing a powerful album. In the works for about the full time they’ve been together, Pink Paradise is an album that represents dedication, resilience and precision. They are now playing it live too, so you can hear it be brought to life in the most ideal and transcendent way.

While the group hopes to one day venture out of Salt Lake City, there’s no rush to leave behind the community that helped build Flamingo. For now, they’re enjoying what’s in front of them: being good friends in a band. Their bond is truly special and is what’s going to make them last.

“We can literally go to any venue or any place, and we can play our show with just what we have right here,” Chamberlin says.The future is bright, and wherever Flamingo might end up, I hope I’m there because it will be filled with good times, company and most of all, music.

Read more Localized interviews:
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Localized: Willöh

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