The High Society New Orleans Jazz Band
Birdland315 West 44th Street, New York 10036
The High Society New Orleans Jazz Band brings its New Orleans-style jazz to Birdland, led by co-leaders Conal Fowkes on piano and vocals and trumpeter and vocalist Simon Wettenhall. The listed lineup also includes Tom Abbott on clarinet, Harvey Tibbs on trombone, Josh Dunn on banjo, Brian Nalepka on bass and vocals, and Kevin Dorn on drums. This is a band set built around an ensemble sound with brass, reeds, banjo and rhythm section, in Birdland’s Theater District room.
For decades, the group has been Woody Allen’s band of choice for films, concert tours and weekly performances. Its members have appeared in and provided music for films including Wild Man Blues, Sweet and Lowdown, Midnight in Paris, Blue Jasmine, Cafe Society, Magic in the Moonlight and A Rainy Day in New York. The band has played major concert stages in Europe and the United States and held a 20-year residency at the Café Carlyle. During that run, Chick Corea, Marian McPartland and Diana Krall were among the jazz figures who sat in. The listing calls the group’s sound “driving” and presents it as proof of New Orleans jazz’s continuing relevance.
Birdland offers a refined jazz experience in a room where the audience sits at tables close to the stage, allowing every note to reach you clearly. The venue features a full menu with dishes like New Orleans-style gumbo alongside a well-stocked bar, making it easy to enjoy a meal or drinks while listening. Each show is ticketed per set, encouraging focused listening as the music unfolds in roughly 45-minute segments. The club’s walls echo decades of jazz history, having hosted legends and continuing to attract top contemporary artists. Located in Manhattan’s Theater District, the space balances a serious music environment with the energy of a night out, where attentive audiences savor the performances without distraction. Booking ahead is essential, as the club fills quickly for its celebrated lineup.