Mark Braud has been described as “the quintessence of the New Orleans spirit,” and the veteran trumpeter and vocalist indeed offers energetic, fresh spins on traditional New Orleans grooves. Born into a musical family (his uncle is the legendary trumpeter Wendell Brunious), Braud honed his chops in the city’s brass bands and studied at the University of New Orleans under Ellis Marsalis. He joined Harry Connick’s band in 2001, touring, recording, and performing in Connick’s Broadway show and his syndicated TV show, “Harry.” Today, Braud is best known for his association with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, which he led for eight years, and continues to perform with today. He has played with an all-star list of contemporary musical luminaries, ranging from the Marsalis family and the Treme Brass Band to the Foo Fighters, Mos’ Def, the Blind Boys of Alabama, Erykah Badu, and Tom Waits. He’s also appeared in movies and television shows such as “A Tuba to Cuba” and “NCIS: New Orleans.”