Named in honor of her parents' love of foraged spring greens, The Fat Dandelions is Nika Jin and Shane Allen's tribute to buoyant and raucous swing music. The Dandies are dedicated to dance music: upbeat jazz standards and well-loved folk and pop tunes all played with an energetic swinging inflection.

Devin Perez trumpet
Shane Allen piano
Austin Bertak guitar
Alexandre Pabst bass
Nika Jin drums

Possessed of a buoyant and unmistakable touch at the keyboard, Shane Allen's approach to joyous, communal music-making builds upon a vibrant working relationship with dancers (vernacular jazz, ballet, and contemporary) that he has cultivated for nearly two decades. He and his quartet weave supposed opposites into a spellbinding whole, combining a trickster's refusal of strict categories with a folk musician's regard for durable tradition. In their hands, contemporary and classic standards crackle with life, humor, and an undeniable beat.