Mama Shakers

The dynamic Mama Shakers from Paris conjure up an American 1920s and 1930s vibe with New Orleans jazz, swing, and blues in a fresh approach.

The band has been around for seven years – formed in 2016 by Angela Strandberg with the goal of bringing traditional jazz to a young audience. Mama Shakers draws inspiration from early American jazz, including the music played by the era's "jug bands" on items like jugs and washboards.

Angela Strandberg grew up in a musical family in Malmö – her parents are jazz musicians Kiki Desplat and Paul Bocciolone Strandberg, who played at the Ystad Jazz Festival in 2019. She began playing piano and trumpet as a child and early on incorporated the washboard into her musical repertoire. For several years now, she has been living in Paris, where she studied bebop before forming Mama Shakers.

Mama Shakers has received several awards and toured extensively in Europe. The band has released two albums. "Cannibal Rhythm" (2020) includes tracks such as "I Want to Be Bad," "Weed Smoker’s Dream," and a lively interpretation of the infectious tap classic "Happy Feet," written by prolific songwriting duo Milton Ager and Jack Yellen in 1930.

A concert with Mama Shakers is an entertaining and impressive stage show featuring delightful and joyful music, dance, and harmonious vocal harmonies, all performed by energetic and skilled musicians.