Tuba Skinny

“Musically, Tuba Skinny mines a rich seam of traditional jazz and blues from the ‘20s and ‘30s. And, while it’s evident the band treasures the sense of history evoked by these vintage tunes, the players’ natural exuberance makes the music feel irresistibly alive.” (Melbourne Music Festival)

For over a decade, Tuba Skinny has steadily grown in popularity, releasing twelve albums and touring extensively around the world. They’ve attracted a wide range of fans—young and old, newcomers and longtime jazz enthusiasts alike—drawn in by their outstanding musicianship and the breadth of their jazz and American roots music catalog.

While Tuba Skinny is widely recognized as a world-class interpreter of traditional jazz, their sound extends far beyond. Over the years, they’ve branched into jug band music, spirituals, country blues, string band tunes, ragtime, and New Orleans R&B—offering a rich and heartfelt take on Americana from an early 20th-century perspective.

No matter how far their reputation has spread or how high-profile their gigs have become, the band remains grounded in their roots.

“We continue to play in the street because it’s a public space,” says Shaye. “We get to play for everyone: old, young, rich, poor—people from all walks of life. It keeps things interesting because it’s organic and unpredictable.”