Performances, Uncategorized

Call and Response – Musician Biographies

By kanderson
2 min read | January 13, 2025

Marla Dixon – Musical Director, Trumpet, Vocals

Marla Dixon’s uncommon and exuberant spirit, which comes through in both her trumpet playing and spectacular singing, immediately dominates any context she appears in. When she leads, it’s always about groove and feeling. No matter who’s in the band it’s her spirit that prevails, and the results are always exciting. Originally from Ontario, Marla has toured North America and Europe with Shake ’Em Up Jazz Band, and been a featured performer at festivals in England, Denmark, and Australia. Having settled in New Orleans, Marla enjoys weekly residencies playing with Shotgun Jazz Band. Wherever she happens to be performing, it’s safe to say that she misses her dogs.

Defne (Dizzy) Incirlioglu – Washboard, Percussion

Defne Incirlioglu is a New Orleans-based percussionist. She learned to play washboard and drums over a decade of busking in the French Quarter with a focus on early American jazz and blues, various world folk music traditions and collective improvising. Defne currently plays with Shake ‘Em Up Jazz Band, Secret Six Jazz Band and Sirocco Brass, among others. When she’s not playing music, she can be found sewing Mardi Gras costumes, chasing her dogs around and cooking big pots of food.

Haruka Kikuchi – Trombone

Trombonist Haruka Kikuchi, a.k.a. “Queen of Tailgate” because she continues the tailgate style Trombone which is a tradition of New Orleans Jazz. Since she came to New Orleans in 2014, she has been playing with Shake ‘Em Up Jazz Band, Preservation Hall All Stars, Original Tuxedo Jazz Band and many more local musicians both within and outside the country. She was also a nominated member for the 61st Grammy Awards, Best Regional Roots Music Album. In April 2020, a new compilation Album from her own project Japan: New Orleans Collection Series was released.

Tomas Majcherski – Reeds

Tomas Rawicz Majcherski is a New York City-based musician and composer who plays saxophones, clarinets and flute. He lived in New Orleans from 2012 until 2019 where he performed in a variety of musical styles, eventually completing a Master’s degree in Jazz Studies at the University of New Orleans. In 2018 he was awarded the ASCAP Louis Armstrong Foundation Scholarship for his compositions. He has worked extensively with the Bread and Puppet Theater. His project Sonic Chambers Quartet is releasing its first album this spring with 577 Records. Hear more at rawiczmusic.com

John Rodli – Guitar

Known for his driving rhythm guitar, John Rodli began his career in New Orleans
in 1991. Initially a street musician, he played with Tuba Fats and Doreen Ketchens and quickly took on club gigs with The New Orleans Jazz Vipers, The Cottonmouth Kings, The Hot Club of New Orleans, The Palmetto Bug Stompers, and R&B local favorite King James and the Special Men. These days, John continues session work and plays regularly with the Shotgun Jazz Band, Leo Forde’s Gazinti Trio, and the Palmetto Bug Stompers as well as in various jazz trios across town.

Julie Schexnayder – Bass

Self-taught, Julie plays in the traditional slap style of New Orleans bassists Pops Foster, Alcide “Slow Drag” Pavageau and Chester Zardis. A full-time member of the Shake ‘Em Up Jazz Band and Palmetto Bug Stompers, she can also be found in session recordings, jazz trios, and playing with other traditional bands such as The Shotgun Jazz Band, Duke Heitger’s Steamboat Stompers (on the Steamboat Natchez), and James Evans’ Kindred Swindlers. Biannually, Julie joins an all-star band of Louisiana natives in an educational tour of New Orleans schools organized and funded by Jazz at Lincoln Center in NYC.