Mari Watanabe is a gifted pianist, composer, and arranger who leads her Chosen Few Jazz Band with dynamic energy and crisp musicianship. Watanabe began studying music in her native Japan at the age of five, and knew early on that New Orleans traditional jazz was her passion. The long-time New Orleans resident has played with many jazz legends, including Danny Barker, Dr. Michael White, Ernie K-Doe, and Gregg Stafford, as well as the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Harold Dejean’s Olympia Brass Band, and Kermit Ruffins.