Besides the female singers, few women were in the microcosm of traditional jazz. This New Orleans-based band is a prime example of how things are changing. Women prove to have swing to spare.
The band’s lineup recalls the first Dixieland orchestras: a front line – trumpet, trombone, and clarinet – and a rhythm section with bass, guitar, and washboard. No piano or drums. The six ladies of the Shake ‘Em Up Jazz Band can accurately revive the traditional polyphony (and the vocal groups) of the Roaring Twenties, when there were stars such as trumpeter King Oliver, trombonist Kid Ory, clarinetist Johnny Dodds. The band stands out with perfectly styled solos.
The band is a proud representative of female jazz music. Their second album, “A Woman’s Place”, features only songs written by women between 1910 and 1930.
The band was formed in the summer of 2016. It was supposed to be a single performance, but after the success achieved and the many requests by clubs and festivals, it became a stable group. They have recorded albums and toured in the United States and abroad, bringing the good old jazz (this music never loses its charm) with grace and verve. Nowadays, the band is a cornerstone of New Orleans’ musical life – especially the most traditional side – and helps care for the precious heritage of early jazz music.