Authentic New Orleans Jazz from Melbourne Australia

The Louisiana Shakers play authentic and definitive New Orleans jazz in the "down home" style of the great bands and musicians of the New Orleans jazz revival of the 1940s such as Bunk Johnson and George Lewis. Since forming in 1994, the band has achieved great success and genuine international popularity through dedication to style and entertaining presentation.

Six highly acclaimed CD releases have also gained international recognition, recorded for Newmarket (Australia), Jazz Crusade (USA), P.E.K Sound (England) and the acclaimed Australian roots music label, Black Market. The band’s latest CD (2004) is "Playing Tough", released on Black Market.

The Shakers have toured Europe/UK 9 times from 1997 to 2004. The band has now performed in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Belgium, The Netherlands, Switzerland, Italy, England, Scotland and Wales.

A fixture on the Australian jazz scene, The Louisiana Shakers have featured regularly at prestigious local jazz festivals such as Wangaratta, Thredbo, Manly, Apollo Bay and the Melbourne International Jazz Festival and many other notable events, plus frequent interstate tours. During the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games the band was heavily showcased at the "Olympics Live" sites. The Shakers' Saturday/Sunday afternoon pub sessions over the past decade have become part of Melbourne's jazz culture.

Proud of their reputation and recognition at home and abroad The Louisiana Shakers are also proud to be universally regarded as one of the true "Keepers of the Flame" of the ethnic New Orleans jazz style. The music is presented with style and passion and in such a manner as to be eminently accessible to the casual listener and dancer or the true jazz aficionado.


Elegant, Raunchy, Terrific...
Melbourne's definitive New Orleans jazz band. The Shakers are a phenomenon. They enjoy worldwide popularity in a modern era. It's phenomenal because they play New Orleans music in the Rediscovery Style. This was the way of playing jazz that blossomed throughout the world in the wake of the finding of Bunk Johnson and other jazzmen who had continued to live and play in the Crescent City during the 30s and 40s. It's part of what is called Trad but it isn't Trad. There's a bit more to it, a sort of New Orleans Buena Vista Social Club.
Jazz Critic Tony Standish

Great jazz with mud on its boots, bruises on it's knuckles and a flair for capturing the feel of the real thing.
Weymouth Jazz Festival UK Review

The Shakers beautiful subtle ensembles and wonderful interplay between all six members with no histrionics is an object lesson in how the best New Orleans jazz can and should be played.
Pumphouse Jazz Club Watford UK Review

The Louisiana Shakers, Melbourne's loyal servants of authentic New Orleans jazz.
Melbourne Sunday Herald Sun

The Louisiana Shakers shake down Mayfield's again this Sunday from 3pm with their brand of "down home" New Orleans Jazz. GIG GUIDE is a fan of music with feeling - as opposed to music you just listen to - and The Shakers deliver feeling via fine musicianship and obvious passion for the music. Living proof that jazz isn't just for old folks.
The Age Entertainment Gig Guide Melbourne July 2005

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