Laissez les bon temps rouler!
About Kanola Band
Kanola Band is more than a band—it’s a musical journey through the heart of New Orleans. With deep reverence for the city’s unmatched cultural legacy, this high-energy ensemble brings to life the music that has defined the Crescent City for generations. From early jazz and second-line brass to funk, soul, gospel, and rhythm & blues, their repertoire spans over a century of New Orleans music—across genres, across decades.
But they don’t just play the music. They bring it to life with stories, context, and insight. At every performance, audiences are invited not just to dance and celebrate—but to listen, learn, and connect. Each song is an opportunity to highlight the lives of the artists who made it famous, the neighborhoods that shaped its sound, and the cultural traditions that gave rise to it all.
Whether reimagining the soulful grooves of Fats Domino, channeling the joyful spirit of the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, or celebrating the resilience of the Mardi Gras Indian tradition, Kanola Band is dedicated to spreading joy and honoring the deep roots of New Orleans music. Their concerts are equal parts celebration and education—designed to uplift audiences and remind us that music is not just entertainment; it’s a universal language that connects us all.
Kanola has TWO homebases - Kalamazoo, Michigan and Savannah, Georgia, but they travel nationwide.
About The Musicians
Kanola members have performed at some of the most prestigious international music venues including Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola, Baryshnikov Arts Center, Ronnie Scotts, Kennedy Center for the Arts and have recorded and toured with some of the top jazz musicians/bands on the scene including the Doc Severinsen Big Band, Etienne Charles Big Band, Curtis Stigers, Henry Mancini Institute Jazz Orchestra, Tri-Fi, Knee Deep Shag, Malaysia Philharmonic Orchestra and more. In addition to being veteran musicians, they are also passionate music educators who have held teaching positions at Western Michigan University, Purdue University (Ft. Wayne), Kalamazoo College, and Saginaw Valley State University. Their unique and engaging approach to performing will leave all ages of audiences having fun while learning about jazz, improvisation, music history, alongside the rich history and music of New Orleans all while grooving in their seat or dancing in the aisle.
The Legend of Kanola…
Way, waaayyy back in 2013, in the cold frozen tundra of Kalamazoo, Michigan, jazz trumpeter Benje Daneman was summoned by a local music venue to put together some “New Orleans” music for a Sunday Gumbo Brunch. He called up the grooviest drummer he knew, Jeff Moehle, to join in. With vigor, Jeff agreed and the rest was history. Since then, with the changing faces of the Kanola Band (except for Benje & Jeff), came a deeper love and respect for the amazing music, history, and culture of New Orleans. Every gig points directly south to The Big Easy!