Jimmy Maxwell (bandleader)

Jimmy Maxwell (born 30 August, 1953, New Orleans) is a musician and band leader who has gained recognition on the national music scene. In the grand tradition of Lester Lanin and Meyer David, his sleek "society sound" has been in demand from coast to coast. Dubbed alternately the "King of Mardi Gras Swing!" and "The Musical King of Carnival Balls" by the New Orleans Times Picayune, Jimmy has been the band for top social functions in New Orleans since 1981. From 1985 to 1989 Jimmy was partners with Peter Duchin, the famed society band leader from New York City and together they produced events involving sound, lighting, staging and even decor. His father Edward Maxwell, was born in New York City but moved to New Orleans at a very early age. Edward played with the Rene Louapre Society Orchestra from 1950 up until joining Jimmy in 1981. Hence, the Maxwell family has been in the service of the New Orleans Mardi Gras Krewes for over 50 years.

Maxwell's climb to big band stardom began ina haphazard fasion rather typical of New Orleans musicians. His father made part of his living playing drums and his mother was a professional singer when she met his dad in a talent show put on by the local telephone operators of the time. Early on, Jimmy remembers being taken as a youngster to hear all the good jazz, pop and classical artist at local clubs and concert halls.

He began by studying drums and percussion at the age of 8 in the school band trying to be like his dad. By the age 12 Jimmy was studying piano with Guy Bernard, Loyola University's (New Orleans) distinguished music professor. Later (teenage years) he was "band boy" for Rene' Louapre's Society Orchestra and would set the music stands, lights, and arrangements for the orchestra on a nightly basis. Additional duties included being bartender for the band and occasionally subbing on drums or piano to relieve fellow musicians. By his late 20s he had learned the business side of the music business and was leading his own band.

From 1985 to 1989 Jimmy was partners with Peter Duchin, the famed society band leader from New York City and together they produced events involving sound, lighting, staging and even decor. His appearance at the 1988 Republican National Convention landed him on the front page of the New York Times along with Nancy and Ronald Reagan. President George H.W. Bush later invited him to play for the first anniversary inaugural ball at the Kennedy Center along with Harry Connick Jr, Tony Bennet and Chubby Checker.

Jimmy incorporates elements of New Orleans jazz in his orchestra, but also includes other styes of his home town influences including R&B, "stride piano", New Orleans funk and the essence of the New Orleans groove. The style is crafted to include popular dance music from the 1900s into the 21st century. Jimmy combines the choice of song and tempo in a style that keeps people moving on the dane floor for enjoyable but not-too-strenuous footwork. The combination has led to the musical gumbo known as "The Maxwell Mystique".

He has performed with or for Rita Moreno, Joel Grey, The Fifth Dimension, The Neville Brothers, Harry Connick, Sr, The Hansons, Peter Duchin, Rich Little, Lou Rawls, Reba McIntire, Al Hirt, The Drifters, Pete Fountain, Diane Schuur, The Vienna Boys Choir, Alex Donner, Joel Grey, Presidents Reagan, Bush, and Clinton, members of Great Britain’s Royal Family (Prince & Princess Michael of York; Princess Margaret, and Prince Andrew), Bill Gates, Major Ronald Ferguson, Henry Kissinger, Colin Powell, former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Conner, Anne Rice, two-time Heavyweight Boxing Champion George Forman and The Chicago Bulls.

Jimmy epitomizes a unique but fading species, the society bandleader.