New Orleans High Society originally started with a weekly gig in the birthplace of jazz, New Orleans, LA. As the members of the band got to know each other better, a distinctive interpretation of the New Orleans Repertoire began to emerge with the sound of traditional jazz as its base but with sprinklings of Afro-Cuban, Gospel, and Modern Trip-Hop mixed in. After playing together regularly for over 18 months, the band decided to record an album, resulting in their self-titled debut. The album features Cleveland Donald on trumpet and lead vocals, David Bode on saxophones and clarinet, Peter Gustafson on Trombone, Yacine Sebti on piano and lead vocals, Steven Bohnstengel on bass, and Trenton O’Neal on drums and percussion. In addition to the members, the band’s first release showcases special guest vocalist Angie Z. Soon after the recording session, Cleveland moved to Marseille, France, so the band brought in Angie as a full-time vocalist.
New Orleans High Society is based in its namesake city, and while unable to perform for live audiences during the pandemic, the band is in the midst of planning its next recording session, with an expected release in mid-2021. With a distinctive sound built around a tight-knit group of friends, the future is bright for New Orleans High Society.
Find them on social channels @nohighsociety.
“The brass section is so full of life, I feel like they’ll leap right out of my stereo speakers and turn my apartment into Bourbon Street. Or perhaps I could jump through the speakers into the land of the music.” - Michael Doherty
"A band that grew and grew together out of a weekly Nawlins gig, this bunch sounds retro until you notice the young ‘uns slipping some trip hop into the second line funk. Like a page out of Louis Prima's Nawlins in real time, they got a feel for the sound and fury and the resulting set is a gasser of olde tyme Dixieland complete with proper period songs. Get hep to this jive, daddio." - Midwest Record
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“The brass section is so full of life, I feel like they’ll leap right out of my stereo speakers and turn my apartment into Bourbon Street. Or perhaps I could jump through the speakers into the land of the music.” - Michael Doherty
"A band that grew and grew together out of a weekly Nawlins gig, this bunch sounds retro until you notice the young ‘uns slipping some trip hop into the second line funk. Like a page out of Louis Prima's Nawlins in real time, they got a feel for the sound and fury and the resulting set is a gasser of olde tyme Dixieland complete with proper period songs. Get hep to this jive, daddio." - Midwest Record
"It is only from the moment the record appears that we can get a very rough idea of what New Orleans jazz is. Approximate - because even the most perfect recording cannot convey the magical atmosphere of this amazing city, where jazz has never died. And today New Orleans does not cease to give the world more and more bright musicians. [...] An excellent discographic debut, after which I want an immediate continuation." - Composite Jazz Quad
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band / ensemble / orchestra