Originally from New York City, trumpeter Alex Owen moved to New Orleans in the summer of 2012 to play traditional jazz and swing. Since his move to New Orleans, Alex has led the Messy Cookers Jazz Band, an upstart traditional jazz band. The band has kept busy by playing regularly at many great venues around the city including the French Quarter. In addition to performing at numerous private events, the band has also played at the French Quarter Festival, the Brunch Fest NOLA festival, the Creole Tomato Festival, the Slidell Antique street fair, the Abita Springs Opry, and the Covington Farmer’s market. The Messy Cookers have traveled to play events in Rosemary Beach, FL, Auburn, AL, Mobile, AL, Shreveport, LA, and Natchez, MS.
Alex has also enjoyed the privilege of being a highly sought after sideman. He has been able to regularly work in the bands of great musicians, such as Steve Pistorius, David Boeddinghaus, Mark Brooks, Amy Sharpe, Duke Heitger, Sophie Lee, Jayna Morgan, Benny Amón Tom Saunders, Tim Laughlin, and Don Vappie. Alex has worked on the Creole Queen Riverboat, the Steamboat Natchez, at Arnaud’s Jazz Bistro, and on numerous private and corporate gigs with Joe Simon and Jerry Embree’s Jazz Groups.
In addition to working as a musician, Alex has also been a music educator. He served as a band director with the Archdiocese of New Orleans Band Program.