The Wellington City Shake ‘Em On Downers Return for Second Helping

The Wellington City Shake-’Em-On-Downers are the Strait city’s most swinging septet, with tunes that take you back to scintillating nights at the speakeasy. And they are coming back to Jazz In Martinborough.

“The Shakes are a funky, fun, talented group from Wellington who bring energy, excitement and expertise to their renditions of New Orleans swing jazz,” says Festival Publicist Lee Quayle.
“They played at our festival last year and the Village Cafe audience just loved their musicianship and stage performance.” The group will be playing at the Town Hall during this year’s festival so that they can play to the bigger audience they deserve. “Word has got around about them and how much of a good night out they provide that we had to bring them back and give them a bigger stage,” says Lee.

The Shake-‘Em On-Downers have thrilled audiences and startled wildlife from Waiheke to Milford Sound, with energetic interpretations of vintage jazz classics. As well as standards from the New Orleans and swing songbook, they also perform raging new compositions inspired by the era. The Shake-’Em-On-Downers will serve you up a spicy gumbo of musical treats!

This dapper seven-piece is made up of prolific NZSM graduates Hikurangi Schaverien-Kaa (drums), Robert Henderson (double bass), Oscar Laven (saxophone, clarinet and vocals), Michael Costeloe (trumpet and vocals), Cameron Kidby (trombone) and Robert Laurent (guitar), as well as tuneful expat Emma Wollum (accordion and vocals).