A Crescent City native from the famed Lower Ninth Ward, Robin Barnes, fondly known as “The Songbird of New Orleans,” is sharing the musical DNA of Louisiana (everything from funk to bounce to zydeco) with the world. Whether on her own or with her band, The Fiyabirds, the aw... Read more

The Rebirth Brass Band is aptly named: the Grammy-winning group has led the New Orleans brass band revival over the past 30-plus years, and has become one of the city’s most treasured institutions along the way. With hits like “Feel Like Funkin’ It Up” and “Do Whatcha Wanna... Read more

Papa Mali is a New Orleans-based singer, songwriter, and guitarist with repertoire ranging from deep soul blues to psychedelic rock to gospel, but he is perhaps best known as a founding member of the Austin-based reggae group, the Killer Bees, and for his collaborations wit... Read more

The Original Pinettes Brass Band are perhaps the world’s only all-female brass band. Founded in 1991 at a local all-girls Catholic high school, The Original Pinettes have performed at venues and festivals around the city and, eventually, around the world. Christy Jourdain l... Read more

Or Shovaly Plus is a guitar-based jazz-funk-soul band that beautifully weaves together various musical influences from guitarist Or Shovaly's life journey. Based in New Orleans, Or's experiences in the city have deeply shaped the band's sound - while his family ties to the ... Read more

The New Breed Brass Band comes by their expertise genetically: Leader Jenard Andrews is the son of trumpeter James “Twelve” Andrews and his uncle is world-wide phenom Trombone Shorty. Indeed, it took some coaching from Shorty to goad the New Breed into finding their own sou... Read more

Kid Merv is New Orleans music to the bone: as a youngster he played trumpet in the vaunted St. Augustine Marching 100 and the venerable Olympia Brass Band, moved on to form his own Young Olympians, which morphed into the funky Soul Rebels Brass Band. Born Mervin Campbell, K... Read more

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