The New Standards—led by Twin Cities musicians and raconteurs Chan Poling (The Suburbs) on piano, John Munson (Trip Shakespeare, Semisonic) on upright bass, and Steve Roehm (Billygoat, Electropolis) on vibraphone— formed in 2005 to play and sing their favorite songs in a stripped-down, acoustic setting. Just as mid-century American jazz musicians reimagined “old standards,” The New Standards create jazz arrangements of recognizable hits and deep tracks alike, drawn from diverse musical genres ranging from pop, glam and soul, to rock and roll. Their repertoire spans several decades and includes songs from Dan Hicks to David Byrne, Bowie to Beck. Their music makes room for solos and arrangements with the freedom of jazz, and yet never fully abandons the modest soul of pop and rock. Some have likened the experience of seeing the band live to attending a hip cabaret: top-notch banter and smoldering performance. The New Standards deliver. 

"What a terrific combo. Everything they do is a surprise.” - Greil Marcus