
- BGG rank
- BGG #20,754
- BGG rating
- 6.3
Friesen-Törn
- 3–6 players
- 45 min
- Complexity 1.3/5
- 2005

1990
Rules assistance for New Orleans Big Band
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
New Orleans Big Band is a board game released in 1990 for 3–6 players, 90 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Herbert Schützdeller and its main mechanics are Set Collection and Trading.
Players compete to assemble a jazz band in the French quarter. But this singer won't work with that drummer, or that trumpet player won't play in a banjo band, or this saxophonist jumps in value with a clarinet player. Try to assemble the best band. After round 8, players may start trading. The starting player is the best singer. If there's an argument, have a sing-off! Nominated for the SdJ in 1990. The German text on the cards makes this difficult to enjoy for non-German speakers.
New Orleans Big Band supports 3–6 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for New Orleans Big Band is 90 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists New Orleans Big Band for ages 10 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
New Orleans Big Band has a complexity rating of 1.8 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a light game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
New Orleans Big Band belongs to these categories: Music. Its main mechanics are Set Collection and Trading. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of New Orleans Big Band are: Herbert Schützdeller. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists New Orleans Big Band as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.