THE HURRICANE BRASSBAND (EU) & NEW ORLEANS – OUR MUSICAL WORLD
From Maastricht to New Orleans: the places, people, and stories that shaped the Hurricane Brassband.
The Hurricane Brassband is more than a group of musicians. We are a family, shaped by the places we’ve visited, the people who inspired us, and the music that moved us. This page takes you through our world — from the Euregio and Rhineland jazz scene to the streets of New Orleans — and shows where our band’s roots lie.
Maastricht 📍
Our home base
Our musical journey begins in Maastricht, where we rehearse, perform, and grow. The Euregio and Rhineland are our fertile ground — a region full of jazz, culture, and warm people.
In Maastricht, we perform frequently, including at:
- events in retirement homes
- Jeker Jazz (café and street performances)
- private parties at Maastricht University
- events for groups of sous‑chefs
- city festivals such as Route du Soleil
- and more.
Café Aux Arcades (Maastricht)
Our rehearsal space, our home base, our living room. Café Aux Arcades on Sint Annalaan in Maastricht is where we gather, laugh, rehearse, and build our music. Owner Luisa has been a loyal supporter of the band for years. Owner Luisa of Café “Aux Arcades” together with one of the Hurricanes.
The Euregio & Rhineland 📍
Many of the Hurricane Brassband’s performances take place in the Euregio and Rhineland. We’ve played at:
- Jazzfest Gronau (D)
- Summer Jazz Festival Bitburg (D)
- Jazz Broukay (B)
- Jazz evenement with Tchavo & Friends
- Sommerfest Stadt Velbert-Langenberg (D)
- EMF Eschweiler (D)
- Europäisches Folklore-Festival Bitburg (D)
- ‘4th July’ – US Embassy Den Haag (NL) and other private events (D/NL).
- Various markets (D/NL)
Jazz truly lives and breathes here, as shown by the many active jazz clubs in the region:
- Jazzclub Eschweiler (D)
- Jazzclub Mönchengladbach (D)
- Jazz-Initiative Eifel (D)
- Jazzverein Aachen (D)
- Planet Jazz Club Düren (D)
- Jazz Hot Verviers (B)
- Jacques Pelzer Jazz Club (Liège-B)
- Jazzclub14 (Swalmen-NL)
- Jazzclub Zuid‑Limburg (Brunssum-NL)
- Jazzclub Vaals 79 (NL)
Beyond the Euregio & Rhineland 📍
Every year we also perform outside the Euregio and Rhineland — often multi‑day trips with the band. We’ve played at:
- Jazz Ascona (CH),
- Jazztage Lichtensteig (CH)
- Jazztage Lenk (CH),
- Internationales Dixieland Festival Dresden (D),
- Jazz Fesitval Enkhuizen (NL)
- and more.
New Orleans 📍⚜️
The source of our sound 🎶
New Orleans isn’t just a wonderful city — it’s a feeling, a rhythm, a way of life. For us, it’s the place where our music feels at home.
📻 WWOZ Radio 📻 – our first big experience
During a trip to New Orleans, we were invited to the WWOZ Radio studio thanks to our friends Benny Jones (Tremé Brass Band) en Roger Lewis (Dirty Dozen Brass Band). There we met DJ Robert “Bob” French Sr. — a moment that eventually led to the recording of our first CD in New Orleans.
⚜️ The Original Hurricane Brass Band ⚜️ – a name with a story
We later discovered that there was already a Hurricane Brass Band in New Orleans. Our name was born after an evening with Hurricane cocktails at Pat O’Brien’s — and it stuck. Fortunately, our bandleader Hugo Kuijpers and Leroy Jones (leader of the Original Hurricane Brass Band) met in New Orleans — and after a few beers, all was well.
🕯️Candlelight Lounge 🕯️- an unforgettable ongoing performance
One of our most memorable afternoons and evenings was playing together with New Orleans musicians at the Candlelight Lounge. Wonderful people, great music, unforgettable memories.
Bands & Musicians Who Inspire Us ✨
The New Orleans brass band scene is rich, diverse, and full of energy. Besides being influenced by New Orleans legends such as Louis Armstrong, Bunk Johnson, Louis Nelson, Sidney Bechet en Joseph ‘King’ Oliver, we’re also inspired by several contemporary bands and artists who continue to shape us:
Algiers Brass Band
DeJan’s Olympia Brass Band
Dirty Dozen Brass Band
Hot 8 Brass Band
Leroy Jones
Lillian Boutté †
New Orleans Night Crawlers
Onward Brass Band
Original Pinettes Brass Band
Preservation Hall Jazz Band
Rebirth Brass Band
Rick Trolsen
Soul Rebels
Storyville Stompers Brass Band
Thomas L’Etienne
Tremé Brass Band
Wynton Marsalis