“God gave us the streets—it’s a true blessing,” praises clarinetist and vocalist Doreen Ketchens. “We can play what we want, we can control who comes into the band and who goes out of the band. People hear us from all over the world and call us and they want us to come and play for them.”

Blowing a clarinet on the corner of Royal and St. Peter streets for some 32 years as the leade...