The Complete Wedding Band

JMO - Jimmy Maxwell Orchestra is a complete wedding band becuase we can cover receptions, church ceremonies, second line parades, ethinc weddings and just about any style of music you can think of. 

We can set the mood for the evening with easy listening music to start then light up the dance floor with finger -snapping Motown - party rock selections. As far as wedding band music goes, this powerful horn driven, vocal driven, soul driven cover rock band offers the perfect combination of entertainment value and polish to ensure a dance filled reception that will live in your memory forever. Give us a call, you'll be glad you did!

Wedding Band Tips When Booking Music

Do you wanna dance? Do you want your guests to dance? If you’re thinking of a Latin wedding band or swing wedding band we can pick up the beat. If you’d like a more sophisticated feel, perhaps a jazz wedding band or cover band that plays Broadway show tunes might be the choice for wedding reception music.

Finding the right band for weddings is a challenge, but JMO makes it easy and fun! 

Five tips for planning your dream day wedding with the perfect wedding music.

1. Listen to audio and/or watch video of the wedding band you have in mind.

2. Communicate the details of your reception with the band leader.

3. Book early. A great wedding music band may be booked 12 to 18 months in advance.

4. After you Get a contract, be sure to read it carefully. Most wedding bands will also require a deposit to secure the date.

5. Follow up with your wedding band as you get closer to your date and make sure your wedding band knows exactly what you are thinking!

A Few Tips for Hiring Wedding Band Music

Since the wedding season is upon us, you may be interested in some ideas to consider when it comes to hiring a wedding band. 

• First. Think about how you want your reception to be remembered. Is it mostly your friends and their age group? Do you have a wide variety of ages? In some instances, a young couple gets married, but it's mostly older family and longtime family friends at the reception. Music that makes them comfortable, (genre, selection, volume, among other things) wil certainly give them pleasant memories of your event.
• Second. Think of songs that may have a special meaning for you and soon-to-be spouse. If you haven't seen the movie, "When Harry Met Sally" we highly recommend it. Not just because it features Leo Ursini in the wedding reception scene, but because it's a great movie about your future relationship. It also gives you a great idea of how music can relate to your life. Check it out!
• Third. Consider your budget. Weddings are expensive, there's no doubt. But before you cross live music off the list, check with the band and see what they can do within your budget.

At JMO, we pay attention to the style of music, your budget for live entertainment and most of all to the vision of your event. We are proud to be considered one of the top wedding band music bands in New Orleans.

Mardi Gras Season Is Under Way

The Krewes are making plans and we're arranging music for what is shaping up to be the best Mardi Gras season thus far. In the seven years since Katrina, mardi gras (and the music of mardi gras) has made a slow and steady comeback. For the first time since the storm, we will be fielding a 20 piece orchestra on the Saturday night before Mardi Gras. The theme is set in the early part of the 20th centruy and that calls for big band dance music. It will be a great night. Featured musicians will include Leo Ursini, Denny Leroux, Charles Darius all under the baton of Robert Maxwell. If you'd like to check out the sounds of Mardi Gras, click here for our "At The Mardi Gras Ball CD"

Rene Netto - In Memoriam passed on 01/04/13

Most of the time this is an incredible life we live as artists, specifally performing artists, and most specifically, musicians. As a jazz musician who is in the business, most of the places you go and the things you do are happy occations, birthdays, weddings, dances, sometimes concerts, or jazz clubs, but over all it's a happy business.

I guess that makes it a little sadder when a musician passes on, particularly one as great as Rene Netto.

Not only was he one of the greatest musicians, I have known, he was kind enough to share his talent with me on the bandstand. Rene taught me alot about music, about jazz music. He was a great help to me as I started in the business. 

For Rene, fame wasn't in his destiny, as much as he may have desrved it. Some say he was a better player than Pete Fountain, or Boots Randolf, maybe in class with Benny Goodman and Stan Getz. But the business side of entertainment escaped him. He chance at fame via The Lawrence Welk show and a few other shots just never quite materialzed. So how I think he came to terms with all of that. In the end, he was happy just to play his horns. It brought him peace and satisfaction knowing he could paint that sound in a partiular moment and do so like nobody else could. It was audio magic listening to him, musch less trying to play and keep up with him.

We did countless private parties, concerts and travels togehter. Criss crossed the USA a few times, covered South America at least in part but that never seemed to matter much to him. A stage was a stage. He just wanted to play his horns.

He did and with unbelievable musical virtuosity. It was amazing and he will be missed, but never forgotten.

Sadly,

Jimmy Maxwell