The New Orleans Moonshiners formed in early 2008 as a group of young musicians trying to get their feet wet playing traditional jazz. After months of playing on the street in the French Quarter for tips, the world-famous Donna’s Bar and Grill invited them inside to take the stage on Fridays. It was there that the band began to take shape. New Orleans native Chris Edmunds, the Moonshiners’ banjo player and bandleader, wanted to keep the music fresh, however. He and other band members began writing original songs in the traditional style, as well as re-arranging old standards. The Moonshiners soon became fixtures with regular gigs all over town, such as Rock N Bowl, Bacchanal Wine, and their current regular gig every Thursday night at the Spotted Cat on Frenchmen St. They have performed at festivals all over New Orleans such as New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Fest , French Quarter Fest, and Satchmo Fest, among many others. Their latest CD, “Frenchmen St Parade" was voted Best Traditional Jazz Album of 2011 by the readers of OffBeat Magazine and is a local favorite on WWOZ’s traditional jazz and New Orleans Music shows.The Moonshiners draw an enthusiastic following of swing dancers, music fans, and fellow musicians alike by adding a creative modern energy and their unique originals to traditional jazz, whipping up a never-before- heard gumbo of music that is flamboyantly entertaining and toe-tappingly good. Young or old, people seem to agree: the Moonshiners’ energy is contagious.
www.neworleansmoonshiners.com
Awards
Voted Best Traditional Jazz Album of 2011 for "Frenchmen St.
Parade."
Nominated by Offbeat Magazine for Best Traditional Jazz Album
of 2010 for "I'm Comin' Home."
“They are the type of group that takes away any worry about
the future of traditional jazz in the city that created it.”
Wade, Luquet, AllAboutJazz.com
“…the New Orleans Moonshiners, whose oeuvre is trad jazz
with a twist of modern sensibility, made by young people who
not only play jazz standards, but who are writing fresh new
material… jazz is not only alive and kicking, its future is going
to be better and brighter, and more accessible than ever."
Jan Ramsey, offBeat Magazine
"On “Frenchmen Street Parade,” their third full-length CD, the
New Orleans Moonshiners do what they do best: Swing out on
spry, light-on-its-feet traditional jazz, a mix of original
compositions and hundred-year-old standards."
Keith Spera, Times Picayune
