Following in the footsteps of New Orleans orchestra legends A. J. Peron, John DeDroit, George White, and Rene Louapre, Jimmy Maxwell and His Orchestra have been performing the melodic standards of Carnival for over twenty years.Their schedule includes more than just Mardi Gras. Performing a continually expanding repertoire that ranges from Broadway Hits, Big Band Swing, Traditional New Orleans Jazz, and Rock Classics of the Fifties and Sixties, to Pop Tunes on the charts today, Jimmy Maxwell and His Orchestra appear at more than 150 engagements each year. Traveling across the country and around the world, they entertain for charity soirees, debutante balls, political celebrations, corporate events, and private parties. No matter how far his travels may take him, you can count on the man cited by The Times-Picayune as"Responsible for the traditional sounds of Mardi Gras" to appear at two dozen Carnival parties and balls in New Orleans, including the prestigious Meeting of the Courts of Rex and Comus.This project is dedicated to the musical heritage of Carnival in New Orleans. In the city where jazz was born, it's the music that motivates Mardi Gras. Try to imagine a parade without the marching bands or a Carnival ball without the orchestra. Although the format of this album is not a recreation of one particular ball, all who listen will recognize music from their favorite memories. These recordings represent a special time in the history of Mardi Gras. As many traditions give way to the politics of the present, the music must pass to future generations of Carnival revelers. The spirit of those grand traditions of the past is represented here in the music of the golden era of Mardi Gras. Jimmy Maxwell and His Orchestra will keep you dancing as they lead Mardi Gras into the 21st Century.