Tucker Baker hails from Alexandria, Louisiana, moved to New Orleans to attend Tulane University, and has lived there ever since. Not only does Tucker play a mean banjo, but this Eagle Scout can cook a duck and sausage gumbo that puts your mother’s to shame. He's the chief co-conspirator and parliamentarian of the Bluegrass Pickin' Party at the Hi-Ho Lounge. If you have any questions about railroads, Louisiana, logging, maritime shipping, or bluegrass, buy him a drink and get ready for an academic display of knowledge. 

John Noble has been a regular in the New Orleans bluegrass scene for the past several decades, including 9 (count ‘em!) Jazz Fest appearances and two international tours. Presently, “Johnny Banjo” enjoys performing with the Monday Night String Band either in dive bar nightclubs or busking in the French Quarter.

Julie Pfeffer was born and raised on the Jersey Shore and retired to New Orleans in 2018 after a career in international finance. She’s spent her whole life singing and was finally moved to pick up the guitar after a few Pickin’ Party sessions at the Hi-Ho.  While Julie loves to travel, with a current tally of 81 countries across all seven continents, she’s staying at home more these days to sing bluegrass with the MNSB, plus jazz and classical on other days of the week.

Ben Russell holds down mandolin, guitar, bass, vocal, and songwriting duties with the band. Hailing from the hills and hollers of Englewood, New Jersey, he's a newcomer to bluegrass but draws on his years of past musical experience to put his own spin on the high lonesome sound. Ben can be seen with different groups across New Orleans but also in the courtroom during his day job as an attorney.

We don’t really know much about Gene Smith. Any time we ask him for paperwork, he redacts all the personal information. He’s usually the quietest member of the band, until it’s time to tell a joke. We’re happy to have Gene holding us down on bass, but he’s as talented as any of us on any instrument (just don’t ask him to play fiddle).

Scott Stobbe has toured the US and the world with diverse musical projects:  traditional New Orleans swing, Brazilian Choro, American and European folk music, free improvisation…and bluegrass!  His projects and compositions have been heard at the Monterey Jazz Festival, the Portland Jazz Festival, Symbiosis, Lightning in a Bottle, Tokyo’s Woven Festival, and Salinas Valley State Prison, where he taught music for three years. Scott has a firm belief that music is a powerful force that can uplift, heal, educate, and bring people together.