Alex Owen & His New Orleans Style Jazz Band

We specialize in New Orleans style jazz, swing, and Great American songbook standards. We can put together any size group from 2-5 musicians. We are very flexible and can be quiet background music, or we can up the energy if you are looking to get people dancing.

Born and raised in New York City, Alex studied trumpet from a young age. After graduating from Connecticut College, where he was introduced to New Orleans-style jazz, Alex moved to New Orleans, where he played professionally for 7 years. While there, Alex founded the Messy Cookers Jazz Band. The group played frequently around the city, including Three Muses, Bamboulas, The Saint Hotel, the Renaissance New Orleans Pere Marquette Hotel, the Renaissance New Orleans Arts Hotel, the Maison Dupuy Hotel, and many private events. Recently, the group performed at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival in the Economy Hall tent and released their most recent CD, “Get Out and Get Under the Moon,” in April of 2019.

In addition to leading bands, Alex stays busy as a sideman. While in New Orleans, Alex enjoyed the privilege of playing in bands led by some of the best musicians in town. These included Steve Pistorius, David Boeddinghaus, John Eubanks, Don Vappie, Mark Brooks, Amy Sharpe, Duke Heitger, Jerry Embree, Jayna Morgan, Benny Amón, and Cassidy Holden. Most recently, Alex worked regularly at the Court of 2 Sisters, Arnaud’s Jazz Bistro, the Steamboat Natchez, and private functions.

Alex has traveled extensively. He has led the Messy Cookers and performed with bands in Boston, MA, Ipswich, MA, Los Angeles, CA, Pensacola, FL, Rosemary Beach, FL, Mobile, AL, Huntsville, AL, Birmingham, AL, Columbus, GA, Atlanta, GA, Natchez, MS, and Shreveport, LA.

As an educator, Alex has taught students of all ages. He was a band director with the Archdiocesan band program of New Orleans for 3 years—teaching, recruiting, and directing elementary school bands in the New Orleans metro area. He has also been invited as a guest teaching artist to the Straight 8 Master Jazz Camp in Garland, TX in 2017 and 2019. Alex moved to New York in August of 2019 to pursue a Master's of Music and Music Education at Teacher's College, Columbia University, with an expected graduation date in May of 2021.

Now back in New York, Alex puts put together all sorts of bands for any occasion, from jazz duos and trios for smaller, more intimate functions to full 6 piece New Orleans style jazz bands. Alex also has experience putting together Brass Bands for second lines from his time in New Orleans, and he can put together any size Brass Band for any occasion, from a trio to a 10-piece band!

We just need a small space to perform. We can perform acoustically or we can bring a small PA.