NEW ORLEANS , Louisiana ( CNN ) -- At the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival , some of the best music happens miles from the Fairgrounds , hours after the crowds have gone and the last of the crawfish bread has been consumed . Shamarr Allen , Mark Mullins and Ben Ellman sport the Midnite Disturbers T-shirts as they perform . It happens with the arrival of Midnite . At 1:18 a.m. , Bonerama -- a brass-funk rock band lead by three trombones -- has just finished a 90-minute set that started with a soulful , passionate original tune written by bandleader Mark Mullins , and concluded with a cover of Jimi Hendrix ' `` Crosstown Traffic , '' complete with the trombones running through wah-wah pedals . Suddenly the crowd of about 75 clears out of the way as a dozen musicians parade in the room . Dressed in black shirts , they are the Midnite Disturbers , a Jazz Fest supergroup whose appearance is as infrequent as a lunar eclipse . Each member of the Midnite Disturbers fronts his own band , and the artists are rarely in the city at the same time . The band was started by New Orleans drummers and longtime friends Stanton Moore and Kevin O'Day . In the weeks following Katrina , O'Day had moved into Moore 's house , where the two hit on an idea . `` We realized we had never had our own band together , and we decided to invite all of the best horn players we know to play with us , '' O'Day said . Each artist has a name , printed in red , on his shirt , following the command `` Listen to '' : Smokey Johnson ... Brian O'Neill ... Henry `` Red '' Allen . They 're the band 's predecessors and mentors . Although probably little known outside the Crescent City , they 're the musicians who shaped New Orleans music : masters of their craft . Modern-day masters in their own right , the Midnite Disturbers live up to their name , splitting the night with their loud , hard , funky jams . There are up-and-comers Troy Andrews and Shamarr Allen , and veterans such as Mullins from Bonerama , Stanton Moore and Ben Ellman from Galactic . Their black shirts are drenched with sweat by the time they finish playing . `` Its an honor to play with such veterans because it 's confirmation that I 'm doing my thing on a level to where people are noticing the hard work that I have been putting in , '' said trumpet player Shamarr Allen . `` Playing with this kind of band keeps you on your toes . It 's more interesting and challenging to try to understand everyone 's musical approach and find a spot for yours to fit . `` That 's the beauty of it , '' he said . `` How to sound good , have fun , listen to each other , entertain a crowd , and stay on the same page at the same time . It lets me know , if I 'm not there yet , I 'm on my way to being one of the big boys . '' The Midnite Disturbers will be at Jazz Fest -- of course -- holding down a 5:55 p.m. slot Saturday afternoon . And then , when it 's over , they 'll be gone -- ready to get together when the moon beckons .
Midnite Disturbers is an all - star group of New Orleans musicians . Group does brassy music , New Orleans style , calling attention to influences . Is scheduled to play live on Saturday afternoon .