The original Bender Brass Band was the brainchild of Big Blues Bender founder AJ Gross and musical director/saxophonist Jimmy Carpenter. The idea was to provide a horn section for Bender artists that wanted to add some depth to their sets. It started with 2 horns, then 3, then a full band of all-star musicians. Since its inception the Bender Brass Band has backed up artists like Delbert McClinton, Jimmy Hall, Bettye LaVette, and many more. The hardest-working band at the Bender, the BBB has become a cornerstone of the festival, and is now taking it on the road, headlining festivals worldwide.