Hailed by the NY Times as “intense, prowling, and ebullient,” the Shakes are led by frontman, singer, ring leader, and musical conjurer Michael Mwenso. Informed by classic jazz big bands, early James Brown & The Famous Flames. Cab Calloway and a slew of other African American musical legends, the Shakes pack vicious jazz and blues punch.

Vocalist Michael Mwenso, born in 1984 in Sierra Leone, began singing and playing piano after he moved to London as a young child. Early on, Michael developed a relationship with James Brown, the King of Soul, when he toured London and often invited Michael to sing with him when he was on tour in Europe. When he was a student at the Sylvia Young Theatre School, Michael took up the trombone to enhance his musicianship. He left school when he was 16 to lead his own bands and perform with local jazz groups in various clubs, including parts of Asia. In late 2010, Wynton Marsalis invited Michael to join the programming team at Jazz at Lincoln Center and head the After-Hours program at Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola. In his ever expanding yet remarkable career, Michael has performed with Jon Hendricks, Jamie Cullum, Reginald Veal, Maceo Parker, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Wynton Marsalis, and many others.