March 25, 2014 | Adam Renn Olenn

Sarah Sharp and Masumi Jones, 1997 alumnae, are the Berklee half of the Jitterbug Vipers, a magnificently weird quartet from Austin, Texas. The group specializes in ‘viper jazz,’ an idiosyncratic hybrid genre that recalls country, swing, and languid afternoons in smoky bars.

Fusing Americana roots music and wry wordplay, the Jitterbug Vipers aim to employ a bygone aesthetic without being shackled to it.

Their efforts are bearing fruit, as they’ve nearly sold out the prestigious One World Theater and have become music festival staples, as well as gigging extensively in Texas in support of their album Phoebe’s Dream.