OMAHA PERFORMING ARTS

The Original Pinettes Brass Band is a breath of fresh air in a male-dominated industry, and they’re playing Jazz on the Green on July 18. Boasting their title as one of the few all-women brass bands, this group has proven time and time again that they have what it takes to make it big. Here a few fun facts about the Original Pinettes Brass Band.

1. Humble beginnings in high school

Hailing from New Orleans, The Original Pinettes Brass Band was born in the jazz capital of the world. The group began in 1991 at the all-girl St. Mary’s Academy High School where they developed and grew under band director Jeffery Herbert. Eventually the group expanded to include girls from other schools around the city.

2. Keeping together through thick and thin

Graduation could have been the end—but not for these dedicated musicians. Their former band director passed on management to the members as they grew older and remained dedicated to their craft. Even though membership has changed since its 1991 founding, but the Original Pinettes Brass Band is still going strong in 2019.

“Not even Hurricane Katrina could stop us from doing what we love,” bandleader Christie Jourdain says. “The band members were misplaced after the storm hit. We were in six different cities, not knowing if everyone made it out safely. But now, we are back like you never heard us before."

3. Taking their sound worldwide

The Original Pinettes Brass Band have a dream to take their music worldwide and show how music is a universal language. They’ve already started with a musical tour across Turkish cities and a jazz festival in Switzerland. Omaha is another step on their journey to spread their music as far as they can.