Alex Owen

The Orleans Kids 

The Orleans Kids have played every August since 2016 at the Roaring Twenties Lawn Party produced by the Trustees and Boston Swing Central in Ipswich, MA. Created by Alex Owen along with Cassidy Holden, this band has used those performances as a springboard for other performances in the northeast, such as private parties in Portland, ME, Woods Hole, MA, and performances at the Aeronaut Brewery in Somerville, MA. The band features some of the top players in the northeast including Cassidy Holden from Portland, ME, John Clark and Dan Gabel from Boston, MA and Greg Ruby and Alex from New York City.

In August 2022, the band put out their first album, “Ipswich Bound.” The album is a compilation of traditional jazz, 1920’s pop tunes, and delta blues. The band plays at concerts, private events, and venues throughout the northeast.

To listen to “Ipswich Bound”, go to bandcamp.

Alex Owen Quartet/Trio/Duo

Featuring some of the finest musicians in New York, Alex leads Quartets, trios, and duos specializing in New Orleans style jazz, swing, and Great American Songbook standards. Some of the venues where Alex has had the pleasure of leading groups include The Cambria Hotel Chelsea, The Arlo Midtown Hotel, Elm Roastery, and Triumph Brewing Red Bank. The group also plays private events such as weddings and holiday parties!

The Messy Cookers

The Messy Cookers Jazz Band was founded in 2012 by Alex Owen, a trumpet and cornet player who was looking for an outlet to play traditional jazz in New Orleans. To form the band, Alex rounded up some of the finest musicians in town, and soon they started performing regularly at the Maison on Frenchmen street and other venues throughout the city.

In August of 2013, the band recorded their first CD “Swing that Music”, and in July of 2015, the band recorded their second CD "That's My Home".  The latter was reviewed by Michael Steinman in his well-known blog "Jazz Lives". Read the full review here

In April of 2019, the band’s third CD “Get Out and Get Under the Moon” was released. The newest CD features great musicians in the New Orleans traditional jazz circuit, including Steve Pistorius, James Evans, Albanie Falletta, John Eubanks, Andy Reid, and Benny Amón. In 2017, the band played at the French Quarter Festival, and in 2019, the band performed in the Economy Hall tent at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.

The Messy Cookers have played regularly throughout New Orleans—at bars, clubs, hotels, restaurants, and private functions. Some of these venues include the Saint Hotel, the Maison, Bacchanal Wine, Bamboulas, Three Muses, the Ace Hotel, the New Orleans Renaissance Pere Marquette Hotel, the New Orleans Renaissance Arts Hotel, and the Maison Dupuy Hotel. The band also traveled regionally to Shreveport, LA, Rosemary Beach, FL, Natchez, MS, Mobile, AL, Birmingham, AL, and Columbus, GA.

The band is a hit within the swing dance community. In addition to swing dance events in New Orleans, the Messy Cookers have played for Prohibition Productions in New York City, the Huntsville Swing Dance Society in Huntsville, AL, Hot Jam Monday in Atlanta, GA, and the Seaside Stomp in Pensacola, FL.

The Messy Cookers can perform New Orleans jazz for any type of venue or private event. If you are interested in hiring the band, click on the “Booking” page. The band can fit any budget and can play as duo, trio, quartet, five-piece, 6-piece, or 7 piece band!