Wendell Brunious

Wendell Brunious is a New Orleans jazz trumpeter and bandleader from a family of brass players that includes his father John Brunious Sr. His lyrical phrasing and warm tone embody the city's traditional jazz lineage. He joined Preservation Hall in the late 1970s, became bandleader in 1987, and was named its inaugural musical director in 2023. Shows with Wynton Marsalis, Lionel Hampton, and Dr. John have carried New Orleans jazz worldwide.