Evan Palazzo

Attended the University of the Arts, Philadelphia College of Performing Arts on a talent scholarship and won the Director's Choice Award as the actor most directors preferred to work with. A lifelong jazz pianist, after working as an actor in New York City for several years, Evan formed The Hot Sardines, a hot-jazz band. He is the band-leader and pianist of this group. In a short time, the Hot Sardines went from their first gig at a coffee shop on the last Q train stop in Queens to selling out Joe's Pub five times in as many months. They headlined Lincoln Center's Midsummer Night Swing, and opened for the Bad Plus, Lulu Gainsbourg and French gypsy-jazz artist Zaz. Through it all they've become regulars at the Shanghai Mermaid speakeasy and turned The Standard, where they play regularly, into their own "saloon in the sky" (The Wall Street Journal) - complete with tap dancing on the bar - honing a live persona that's been called "unforgettably wild" and "consistently electrifying" (Popm