This work was commissioned by Professor James Watson for the brass faculty of the Royal Academy of Music and was composed during August and September 2006. It is the second of five sonatas for brass and piano (Tuba Bass Trombone Tenor Trombone Horn Trumpet/Flugelhorn) and a concluding work for brass ensemble) of which the last five were commissioned by the RAM. The first performance was given on 15 March 2007 by Daniel West (to whom the work is dedicated) and Timothy End. All five sonatas will be published by Queen's Temple Publications during 2009.

Having won many prizes at the Paris Conservatoire during the 1920s-1930s, Eugène Bozza went on to conduct the orchestra of the Opéra-Comique and to become Head of the Conservatoire in Valenciennes. As a major figure on the classical music frontline, Bozza's compositions were well-received by audiences, New Orleans being popular in the bass brass repertoire. This Bozza piece for bass brass with Piano accompaniment was written in 1962. It was orginally composed for Bass Saxhorn but since the instrument was falling into obscurity, Bozza also adapted it for Bass Trombone and Tuba. New Orleans is influenced by the jazz culture of the city. As music educationalist, Paul Griffiths has written of Bozza's compositions, his works reveal melodic fluency, elegance of structure and a consistenly sensitive concern of instrumental capabilities. New Orleans for Bass Trombone, Tuba, or Bass Saxhorn and Piano remains popular in the repertoire of the instruments and is often included in audition syllabuses, making it essential to aspiring performers of bass brass.