For those unaware, David Bode, a New Orleans-born and -based saxophonist, composer, and arranger, is set to release his first live album as a leader, Live at the 2026 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, on August 28th, 2026. “Just a year after my studio debut, I am so excited to share the set from our performance at JazzFest” says Bode.

“After many years of playing at the festival as a sideman or bandmember, it was very meaningful to see my name in ‘The Cubes’ and on the billboard on the stage for the first time. I could not be more thankful to all the amazing musicians who joined me that day,” he continues. The ensemble on the record is a 22-piece big band that includes some of New Orleans’ finest musicians. “It was so much fun bringing this band and these arrangements to the crowd at the WWOZ Jazz Tent,” says Bode. “We had a great time and really fed off the good vibes the people were giving us.”

1. Introduction
2. Happy People
3. Lover You Should’ve Come Over
4. Stage Banter 1
5. Monkey Puzzle
6. Stage Banter 2
7. Lush Life
8. Syeedan’s Song Flute
9. Stage Banter 3
10. Cold Train Funk
11. Stage Banter 4
12. Airbag
13. Dear Prudence / Don’t Let Me Down

With the songs chosen from the day’s show reflecting Bode’s varied musical history, after a brief Introduction, he opens on the upbeat and joyous rhythms within Happy People and a simply breathtaking, Hammond-guided rendition of Jeff Buckley’s Lover You Should’ve Come Over, and after he introduces the band within Stage Banter 1, we get the free flowing musical majesties of Monkey Puzzle, a shout out to the low brass section within Stage Banter 2, before the effortlessly, and luminously-sung Lush Life (by Jenna Winston) is brought forth.

Along next is the simply scintillating Syeedan’s Song Flute and after another quick bit of informative Stage Banter 3, we get the aptly-titled funkily grooved beauty Cold Train Funk, a quick introduction within Stage Banter 4 leads us to their stupendous cover of Radiohead’s Airbag, the set rounding out on the rocking twofer of Dear Prudence / Don’t Let Me Down (again featuring Jenna Winston).

Cold Train Funk (Live) (Official Music Video)

Official Spotify Purchase Link

www.davidbodemusic.com