This six-piece band is fronted by
Victoria's Queen of Soul, Joyce "The
Voice" Allensen. This powerhouse
vocalist loves to get the crowd up
on its feet - not only with her
knockout singing but her good
humoured banter. The All Star Veteran line-up
includes saxophonist Scott Ramsay,
guitarist Sean McCool, bassist
Henning Kanstrup, drummer Matt Vause
and keyboardist Peter Willing.
The Soul Shakers' brand of gritty, energetic R&B and soul includes contemporary tunes by Susan Tedeschi and Delbert McClinton as well as soul
sanctified classics
by Aretha Franklin, Sam & Dave,
Stevie Wonder, James Brown
and others. It is irresistible
dance music — perfect for clubs,
conventions, weddings,
parties... anywhere where folks
gather with a yen to boogie!
The Soul Shakers
recently recorded two
nights at Vancouver's
Yale Hotel — Western
Canada's legendary
nightclub for blues and
R & B acts. The band's
new album, Soul Shakers:
Live at the Yale,
captures the band
delivering a typically
passionate and energetic
show for a cheering,
boogying crowd. As well
as nightclubs, band has
played the Victoria Jazz
Society's Blues Bash,
the Saanich Fair, the
Oak Bay Tea Party, the
Vancouver Convention
Centre and other notable
venues.
Fans love the Soul
Shakers' ability to
deliver red-hot dance
music and interact with
the audience in a good-humoured
way. Musicians, too,
have taken notice. Sam
Andrew, original guitar
for Janis Joplin's Big
Brother and the Holding
Company, has given the
Soul Shakers the thumbs
up (see our "reviews"
section). So has
renowned trumpeter Terry
Townsend, who's played
with Ray Charles,
Delbert McClinton and
Colin James. After Terry
sat in with the band at
Swans one night, he
declared: "Joyce, you
and all the boys sounded
great and it was a
pleasure playing with
you!"
And it's our pleasure to
play for all of you,
too!
