Sunday at this thirtieth edition of Bix Fest coincided with Bix Beiderbecke's birth date - March 10 (1903). Born in Davenport, Iowa, the legendary cornetist could never have imagined that 116 years after his death there would be more than one festival celebrating his contribution to jazz including Bix Fest here in Racine, Wisconsin some 200 miles northeast of his birthplace. To mark Bix's birth date there would be cake for all Bixians.
The line-up on the final day was, in effect, a reprise of Saturday evening's concert. Andy Schumm returned with his Cellar Boys, Reginald Robinson and John Reed-Torres
enthralled the capacity audience with yet more spellbinding ragtime piano, Milwaukee's Sweet Sheiks made the short trip down the freeway a second time and the Shake 'Em Up gals were around to close the party.

Closing Bix Fest 2019 was the Shake 'Em Up Jazz Band. The all-female six-piece band from New Orleans is a hit wherever it goes and this Racine audience loved 'em - that's Marla, Chloe, Haruka, Molly, Julie and Defne. A trumpet-clarinet-trombone frontline with 'real deal' vocals supported by a superb rhythm section of guitar, bass and washboard, the Shake 'Em Ups are 24-carat festival headliner quality. Chloe Feoranzo's vocals on Empty Bed Blues will live long in the memory. Bix Fest 2019 will also be a treasured, life-long memory.
Russell.
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