Dejan's Olympia Brass Band

Dejan's Olympia Brass Band, the world-renowned New Orleans jazz band, has made every year of the festival and fans won't be disappointed this year.

"We'll be our usually good self," promises Milton Batiste, band leader and trumpet player.

Instead of telling the planned songs, he notes that "most things happen on the spur of the moment. It's the reaction of the people that makes the show. They make you happy and make you welcome and that brings out things that I can't foretell right now," says Batiste, who has been with the band for over 30 years.

The band has appeared in numerous commercials, including Bud-Lite, Coca-Cola and AT&T. When the band tours Europe, listeners will recognize the group from a commercial for the European-made car Peugeot.

The band has played at banquets, parties, dances, music festivals, grand openings, Mardi Gras parades and festivities and traditional New Orleans jazz funerals. The band regularly packs them in at the Preservation Hall concert series in New Orleans.

Harold Dejan organized the band in 1960.

The group takes its name from the Olympia Brass Band that was formed in 1883. To make sure the group's message continues, a group called the Young Olympians has been organized.

The band will have T-shirts, compact discs and cassettes on sale.