New Orleans is not only home to the richest musical culture in the US, it’s also served as a place where musicians from around the world have experienced massive personal breakthroughs.

Artists spanning a vast range of styles from Ray Charles to Ornette Coleman to Duane Allman have all acknowledged the city as the place that let them discover how deep their own music could go.

Here’s a band made up of folks born elsewhere who’ve found the city to be a sweet home indeed. The Panorama Brass Band playing Hugh Masekela’s “Grazing in the Grass” at the annual French Quarter Fest, the biggest free music festival in the South. Enjoy!

Everyone has their own favorite bands and musicians.

I happen to like the Panorama Brass Band both for their exuberance and their wide open ears. They play music from everywhere.

If I had to name my personal favorite New Orleans-based musician, it would be Half Moon, California-born Aurora Nealand here on alto sax. How can you help loving someone who obviously loves the music so much?

Panorama is led by clarinetist Ben Schenck and made up of Aurora Nealand (alto saxophone); Charlie Halloran (trombone); Walt McClements (accordion); Patrick Mackey (banjo); Jon Gross (sousaphone); and Sean Clark (drums)

Another great band in a city of great bands.

Don’t you think the absolutely unique New Orleans culture is worth saving?

Damn right it is! And no one does more for the city and its musicians than the New Orleans Musicians Clinic.

Now they need our help. Click here to learn what you can do: Save the Clinic