Brian Seeger:
Dubbed "One of New Orleans' best jazz guitarists," by Gambit Weekly, Brian Seeger is on the forefront of the New Orleans music scene. His performance and recording credits include Aaron Neville, Stanton Moore, Karl Denson, Big John Patton, Chris Wood, Charlie Hunter, Jason Marsalis, Delmark Records tenorman Ed Petersen, Zachary Richard, Davell Crawford, Joe Krown, Theresa Andersson, and many others. New Orleans Magazine's selection of Brian as one of their "Jazz All-Stars" in 1999 serves as a fitting summation of his stature in the local music community.

Brian is comfortable off of the stage as well, garnering critical acclaim for his work as a record producer and composer. Among his production credits are Quintology's award winning eponymous debut, Chévere's "Baila Mi Ritmo," Olivier Bou's "Bou-Shah-O-Ray," which features Stanton Moore, Steve Masakowski, and Nicholas Payton, The Jesse Lewis Union, as well as demo discs for a number of other artists. Brian's compositions have graced numerous CDs, appearing on Theresa Andersson's "Vibes," Stanton Moore's "All Kooked Out," Quintology's "Blues By 5," Joe Krown's "Funk Yard," and also on Mr. Moore's Verve Records debut, "Flyin' the Koop." Mr. Seeger holds a Bachelor of Music, summa cum laude, from the prestigious Berklee College of Music, as well as a Masters Degree in Jazz Studies from a well known New Orleans institution. Brian has also been a part time faculty member at both the University of New Orleans and Delgado Community College.

Charlie Dennard:
A protege of Ellis Marsalis, Charlie has performed with a virtual Who's Who in New Orleans, including New World Funk Ensemble, Quintology, Michael Ray (from the Sun Ra Arkestra and Kool and the Gang), Stanton Moore (of Galactic), G Love and Special Sauce, Charlie Hunter, Juice, and Theresa Andersson to name a few. Charlie has appeared on recordings alongside many greats such as the Birmingham Metropolitan Orchestra, Charles Neville, Steve Masakowski, and Robert Moore. Charlie's composing and arranging skills have graced the books of many of New Orleans best groups. His writing is extensively featured on both of Quintology's highly acclaimed CDs, including the title track of their second disc, "Blues By 5." Also, his compositions, and collaborative works with Brian Seeger, make up a large part of the repertoire of Tanton Moore's Moore and More. Charlie has a Master's Degree in Jazz Studies from the University of New Orleans, as well as an undergraduate degree in Music Media and Industry from the renowned University of Miami. Along with his performing schedule, Charlie is currently a piano and ensemble instructor at Delgado Community College and UNO.

The mistake was not noticed until 23 years later but in any case, Jewel Brown is certainly a gem. The heavens had already ruled this little star would score an inevitable knock-out of her own! She would surely be granted a name in lights befitting the twinkling jewel she really is!

Born to humble beginnings as the youngest in the family, Jewel followed in the footsteps of her industrious parents. Coming from a family that was motivated to make the best of their talents, Ms. Brown was always looking for an opportunity to explore and expand her natural talents. Like so many young Black artists through the years, her first public performances before audiences began in church. Trying her hand at some of the local talent shows, the young girl with the radiant smile and even then surprisingly huge voice was an instant shoe-in for the top trophy. Before she had reached her teens, her natural singing gift had become known and made her a "must see" attraction. Under the watchful guidance of her mother, Jewel was soon showcasing entertainment hotspots locally in Houston and throughout Texas. She was already singing as a bona fide professional and had generated such popularity that "Little Miss Jule Teasin'" as she was then known. By the age of twelve she had become a household word everywhere on the Houston nightclub scene.

On a Los Angeles vacation in 1957 she sat in with organist Earl Grant at the Club Pigalle. She was hired on the spot that night for an engagement that lasted a whole year. From there Ms. Brown went on to Dallas, Texas to work for Jack Ruby. (Yes, that Jack Ruby!) That too lasted for more than a year. After having been discovered by Associated Booking Corporation's (ABC) branch manager, Tony Zoppi, she was hired by the legendary Joe Glaser himself and given the opportunity to join either jazz greats Louis Armstrong or Duke Ellington.

She chose Louis Armstrong and was with Mr. Armstrong from 1961 to 1968. They were sensational years during which Armstrong performed almost continuously both in the U.S. and on four continents. During that time Ms. Brown was immortalized on sound recordings and film. She appears with Louis in the film "Louis Armstrong and All Stars" (1961) and in a duet with Armstrong in the film "Solo", directed by Johnny Winter. Recordings include "The Essential Louis Armstrong", "Louis Armstrong and His All Stars En Concert avec Europe 1", "Sleepy Time Down South" and many other live performances with Louis currently available on CD. After worldwide acclaim and exposure with Armstrong (whose ailing health had began to bring a twilight close to his great and illustrious career) she then went on to Nevada headlining shows throughout the Nevada circuit.

Some of the musicians appearing with the band date back to the time when jazz was in its earlier, formative stages, but the band has never been deliberately archaic in its approach to the music. It always offers something fresh and new.

On tour, the band has been a smash at such diverse venues as Carnegie Hall, the JVC New York Jazz Festival, Lincoln Center, The Spoletto Festival, Hollywood Bowl and the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.

A long list of college campus appearances attest to the band's ability to cross generational boundaries. Internationally, the band has appeared at such venues as the Grande Parade du Jazz in Nice, France, and Mexico City's International Jazz Festival and twice for HRH Prince Rainier of Monaco.

James Rivers is probably Clint Eastwood's favorite saxophone player. He certainly is Eastwood's favorite New Orleans musician and his multi-instrumental efforts have been featured in six Eastwood films beginning with "Tightrope," filmed in New Orleans, followed by Clint's vision of Charlie Parker in "Bird." He appears in "The Bridges of Madison County" Most notable was his performance at Carnegie Hall in the "Eastwood at Midnight" celebration where he literally stole the show. A performance by The James Rivers Movement will be long savored.

Crescent City Big Band
Nothing in contemporary music quite matches the excitement of a swinging big band. The Crescent City Big Band, under the direction of Brian Preen, is just such a band and its renditions of musical numbers made famous by Harry James, Tommy Dorsey, Woody Herman, Count Basie, and Buddy Rich are sure to resonate in your memory bank long after the performance.

Yusuf (vocalist)
Just the single name is enough. Like "Bernhardt," or "Sting" or "Caruso," Yusuf can take you on a journey that you're not likely to soon forget. Whether it's his version of Joe Williams" "Alright. Okay, You Win" made famous with the Basie band, Brook Benton's "A Rainy Night in Georgia" or Nat King Cole's "Route 66", you will remember his smoothly resonant bass- baritone voice and his impeccable sense of swing.

A multi-talented musician, composer, artist and journalist, Tom McDermott attributes his love of jazz and blues to his childhood in St. Louis. McDermott first discovered traditional jazz and the classic ragtime of Scott Joplin while in high school and soon began his composing his own work. In 1984, he adopted New Orleans as home. Before the move he earned an art degree from St. Louis University and a Master of Music from Washington University. Making his way as a non-academic, working musician, he toured extensively as a pianist with the Dukes of Dixieland, worked with New Orleans legend Danny Barker, composed and performed on screen for the movie He Said, She Said (1991), arranged for the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, and wrote music criticism for the St. Louis Globe-Democrat and the Times-Picayune.

One of the finest clarinetists in New Orleans. His presence in a jazz concert always means a superior performance. Maheu began his career in the early 50s with the legendary Salt City Five while still in his 20s. The band was heralded as "the future of dixieland" at that time, but the popularity of big band and the coming of bebop put the nix on the future of dixieland before this prophecy could unfold. In 1957, he began work with the Dukes of Dixieland in Las Vegas and recorded eight albums with them. Having worked all over the world, Jack moved to New Orleans in 1990. He toured for six months with Al Hirt, played engagements at the Fairmont Hotel, various Bourbon Street clubs, and Mississippi River boats. Since then, he has formed the Fire In The Pet Shop Callithumpian Jazz Band, which has won First Place three years in a row in the New Orleans French Quarter Jazz Festival Battle of the Bands. Nowadays, Jack holds court at Fritzel's Pub on Bourbon Street and the Palm Court Jazz Cafe on a regular basis.

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Ellen Rogers (vocalist)
Ellen Rogers was born into a world of music. Growing up with her father's extensive New Orleans record collection from the 50's and 60's; and a Grandmother who would sing to her the jazz standards of the 20's, 30's, and 40's; Ellen was encouraged to pursue a musical career. She has performed in a variety of local settings and venues. A deceptive powerhouse singer, Ellen believes a song was not sung until Ella Fitzgerald sang it.

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Dr. Karl Koenig (pianist)
Jazz Historian, Pianist, Scholar, Lecturer, composer, writer, conductor, teacher, Radio & Television personality, Dr. K. is all of these. Dr. Koenig has been called "the premiere researcher on the jazz music of Southern Louisiana" and has played a key role in increasing the awareness of jazz's history in New Orleans. He has developed an international reputation for his detailed knowledge of jazz's lineage. Currently residing in Lake Arrowhead, California, Dr. Koenig formed an early jazz band, which includes many of the great musicians living in and around his community.