Trumpeter Kermit Ruffins embodies the exuberant spirit of Louis Armstrong and the New Orleans entertainment culture. He co-founded the Rebirth Brass Band and is perhaps best known for performing with his longtime group, The Barbecue Swingers. Born in 1964, Ruffins took up ... Read more

Jon Gross powers his tuba and sousaphone sounds with New Orleans-inflected energy and passion. Gross can be found with more traditional Crescent City jazz bands such as the Treme Brass Band, Loose Marbles and the Panorama Jazz Band, or exploring the outer edges of jazz in p... Read more

Johnny Sketch & the Dirty Notes offers irreverent, horn-inflected funk/rock with a Latin/Klezmer flair. The classically-trained Dirty Notes, led by Marc Paradis on guitar, electric cello, and vocals, Dave Pomerleau on bass, Andre Bohren on drums, Josh Paxton on piano, and O... Read more

Johnny Sansone is a true Louisiana blues superstar, dominating the genre with his powerful voice, stellar musicianship on accordion, harmonica, and any other instrument he chooses. From solo gigs to work with his trio or with the Voice of the Wetlands All-Stars, Sansone bri... Read more

James Martin cut his tenor sax chops with Trombone Shorty’s Orleans Avenue band, and has progressed with a fine career as sought-after sideman, songwriter, vocalist, and leader of his own band. He’s toured the world with stops at all the major festivals, and collaborated wi... Read more

The Hot 8 Brass Band brings a younger funk style to the brass band scene, incorporating influences ranging from the Dirty Dozen to bounce, hip hop, and R & B. The Grammy-winning ensemble offers up energetic, horn-driven original tunes interspersed with crowd favorites. A pr... Read more

Derrick “Smoker” Freeman is a man with many hats: drummer, songwriter, and leader of the soul-funk Soul Brass Band, the hip-hop Smokers World, the power trio MFG, and the Band of Freeman. He performs with a kaleidoscopic cast of New Orleans musicians ranging from Angelika “... Read more

Corey Henry came of age in the historic Treme neighborhood, surrounded by street parades, brass bands, and a family that includes some of New Orleans’ most treasured musicians. Amidst that village, it’s no surprise that Henry has matured into one of the city’s more dynamic ... Read more