In 2006, the Mayor of New Orleans' Bring New Orleans Back Committee on Culture, chaired by jazz legend Wynton Marsalis and prominent business leaders, prepared a comprehensive report on the importance of restoring the arts after Hurricane Katrina had decimated much of the cultural infrastructure. MFT co-founders Kabir Sehgal and Brent Reidy prepared a report for the committee which showed the economic importance of supporting New Orleans culture. New Orleans' creative economy was one of the state's biggest employers, with over 15,000 jobs and a $300 million economic impact per year.

The MFT founders realized that government support alone wouldn't be enough to restore the creative economy of New Orleans, so they organized a concert to raise money to help New Orleans musicians and promote awareness. MFT was officially founded on September 18, 2006 with a gala fundraiser in New Orleans hosted by Jude Law. Actress Patricia Clarkson, actor James Gandolfini, and Lt. Gov. Mitch Landrieu also attended the show. In less than two months, MFT raised over $100,000 in cash and in-kind contributions, of which $25,000 was donated towards the construction of the NationalJazzCenter, which was administered by the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra. Since then, MFT has raised more than $30,000 in addition. Where Y'at, a popular local newspaper, called MFT "the best thing to happen for New Orleans in a while."

At the time considered a one-time fundraising event, the parties involved took the success of the concert as a cue to begin a lifetime commitment to the MFT vision. MFT incorporated and was recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. In 2009 MFT began to host a number of smaller events - including intimate salons that helped artists that bear the weight of New Orleans' cultural legacy.

Now MFT focuses on helping book jazz musicians for gigs via its website. By scaling its online band booking service, MFT helps promote New Orleans music. Our bank booking service is a  macroeconomic solution which helps musicians find more employment opportunities, and it helps to bolster the creative economy.