Ready to march...

The brass bands that lead second line parades, play at French Quarter Fest,  Jazz Fest, lots of clubs and all sorts of Mardi Gras fun. They make wonderful vignettes to paint of New Orleans life and are one of my recurring subjects. I loved painting them when I lived there and I still do, particularly when I'm missing New Orleans. It's like that Louis Armstrong song - "Do you know what it means to miss New Orleans?" The area I lived in had a lot of musicians and artists. Music floated out of many buildings as you walked around from jazz to brass bands to a concert piano player running through a classical piece. Kids would walk home from school blowing quick blasts of sound from their horn of choice. It adds a charm to an old neighbourhood and is not found in silent modern cities.
Now I paint them from memory. They are wonderful musicians and great fun to know.