Brass Bands

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Real (New Orleans type) brass bands.

The jazz funeral has gotten a weird rep. Personally I think full brass bands are one of the last refuges of true "American Music".

What do you think about it?

― Cameron (Cameron), Sunday, 23 November 2003 10:44 (twenty-two years ago)

Jordan Cohen to thread!

― jaymc (jaymc), Sunday, 23 November 2003 10:53 (twenty-two years ago)

Why are Dixieland/New Orleans-style brass bands the only ones that merit the designation of "real"? Some of the greatest brass bands in the world are British groups, and there's some amazing German brass band music out there if one digs beyond the Oktoberfest oompah bands. The history of colonialism being what it is, there are also fascinating hybrids of these styles in areas of the world settled by Brit/German folks: Pacific Rim countries (esp. Indonesia) and Central/South America (mariachi, for example). In addition, there are a number of contemporary composers who've used the format to do some really interesting music -- Lester Bowie and Henry Threadgill come immediately to mind.

― Nom De Plume (Nom De Plume), Sunday, 23 November 2003 22:11 (twenty-two years ago)

Don't mean a thing if it ain't got etc. etc. :> Although actually I've heard of some Easter European/gypsy brass bands that would be interesting to hear.

I think the lives of lots of people who like hip-hop on this board would be improved by hearing the Soul Rebels Brass Band 'No More Parades', esp. those who love the Primo/Kanye/Outkast etc. productions with big horns.

Here's the old thread I started:

New Orleans Brass Bands S/D

― Jordan (Jordan), Monday, 24 November 2003 14:22 (twenty-two years ago)

what about english brass bands?

http://www.brighouseandrastrickband.co.uk/

― charltonlido (gareth), Monday, 24 November 2003 14:27 (twenty-two years ago)

Williams Fairey owns

― stevem (blueski), Monday, 24 November 2003 14:29 (twenty-two years ago)

peter skellern to thread.

― Marcello Carlin, Monday, 24 November 2003 14:37 (twenty-two years ago)

I saw the Rebirth Brass Band at Mardi Gras a few years ago and it was undeniably classic. Jordan is OTM about the Hip Hop connection, see also Mystikal.

― BrianB, Monday, 24 November 2003 14:43 (twenty-two years ago)

OK, someone please correct me if I'm wrong here. I haven't actually heard any English brass bands, but it seems like a pretty square affair (like comparing John Philip Sousa to Lil' Jon, or something?). For example, would you ever hear,

"You don't want to go to war...with Brighouse and Rastrick Braaasss Band/Don't start no shit won't be no shit!"

(obv. there are different types of brass band music, even in New Orleans, though the modern stuff tends to be my favorite)

― Jordan (Jordan), Monday, 24 November 2003 14:47 (twenty-two years ago)

The Brighouse and Rastrick Brass Band almost had a number one single, which I don't recall the Dirty Dozen Brass Band ever achieving. Though given the progressive corporate emasculation of this country I indeed fear that it won't be long before the former are forced to utter the above crass chant, or similar. Perhaps replace those square old caps and uniforms with back-to-front baseball caps and Gap XL T-shirts while they're at it.

― Marcello Carlin, Monday, 24 November 2003 14:52 (twenty-two years ago)

http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/drc300/c368/c36898r4n5o.jpg = Classic

― BrianB, Monday, 24 November 2003 14:53 (twenty-two years ago)

english brass bands are more square, yes, undoubtedly.

― charltonlido (gareth), Monday, 24 November 2003 14:58 (twenty-two years ago)

http://www.blackdykeband.co.uk/bdb/2003/shop/recordings/cds/essent3.jpg

The Black Dyke Band to thread. (Never thought I'd ever be typing that sentence...)

― NickB (NickB), Monday, 24 November 2003 15:00 (twenty-two years ago)

'Feet Can't Fail Me Now' charted in the late 70s, didn't it? And I know Rebirth has had singles that were #1 one in New Orleans and did well in the South, which must be about equivalent to 'almost #1' in England.

And I love the traditional N.O. brass bands too, like Treme and the Paulin Bros., who aren't nearly so 'crass' as to be young and listen to hip-hop. So what does the B&RBB sound like, Marcello?

― Jordan (Jordan), Monday, 24 November 2003 15:21 (twenty-two years ago)

Not as sexy as "Mama Too Tight" by Archie Shepp.

― Marcello Carlin, Monday, 24 November 2003 15:23 (twenty-two years ago)

Is it sexy at all?

(thanks for reminding me of that record actually, I've never heard it but I've wanted to for years)

― Jordan (Jordan), Monday, 24 November 2003 15:47 (twenty-two years ago)

God yes, especially the title track (why was it never a single?).

(then again I am living with a trombonist, so clearly I am biased!)

― Marcello Carlin, Monday, 24 November 2003 15:51 (twenty-two years ago)

I meant the English brass band; I'm Roswell Rudd + Grachan Moncur are sexy!

Trombonists are good, good people. New Orleans has made it one of my favorite instruments.

― Jordan (Jordan), Monday, 24 November 2003 15:54 (twenty-two years ago)

British brass bands tend to be doleful, mournful and windswept. Those unceasing gusts across the Pennines, you see. They are potentially asexual but when utilised well in British pop/rock they can have a startling effect - Peter Skellern's "You're A Lady" is maybe the most famous example (quoted by El-P at the start of "Fantastic Damage"!) but also there is Syd Barrett's "Jugband Blues" and above all Roy Harper's "When An Old Cricketer Leaves The Crease."

― Marcello Carlin, Monday, 24 November 2003 15:58 (twenty-two years ago)

Rebirth were alot of fun the last I saw them in Washington DC(although some of their lyrics got a little too sexist and raunchy for my politically correct ears by the end of the night). Just as DC go-go bands(many of which used to have horns btw) seem to specialize in transforming current rap hits into go-go; Rebirth seems to specialize in turning current rap hits into N'awlins brass band funk.
It's fun but like with the go-go bands it limits their ability to get national or international attention. I liked the Treme Brass band when I saw 'em down there years ago(I think I bought their record as well).

There are lots of Latin bands who use brass, and I'd love to see a United House of Prayer african-american gospel brass band. I think Austin, TX writer John Morthland once wrote about one of the latter bands.

― Steve Kiviat (Steve K), Monday, 24 November 2003 19:47 (twenty-two years ago)

Yeah, I've heard recordings of trombone shout choirs that are just ridiculous (rhythm section plus seven to nine trombones just blasting gospel shit).

Did you get Treme's record 'Gimme My Money Back'? That title track is off the hook!

I know what you mean about reworking other tunes, which is definitely a common brass band thing. I can't really see Rebirth (or Soul Rebels, or Lil' Rascals) having a true hit, unless someone established in hip-hop wants to use them for something (which would be awesome), but they do have a pretty solid level of international touring/profile. Still the funkiest music I've ever heard though.

― Jordan (Jordan), Monday, 24 November 2003 20:11 (twenty-two years ago)

I thought I'd point out that at Rebirth's site, they have a whole show from NYC (w/Fred Wesley guesting!) if anyone wants to check them out.

Now, um, time pack to go to New Orleans this weekend to see brass bands (seriously).

― Jordan (Jordan), Friday, 5 December 2003 03:08 (twenty-two years ago)

serbian brass bands = classic!

― s1utsky (slutsky), Friday, 5 December 2003 17:02 (twenty-two years ago)

Brass bands have more intimate connections to hip hop that just the New Orleans groups covering hip hop, or the New Orleans-style Wisconsin ones collaborating with Talib Kweli (see Youngblood Brass Band). Marching band drill teams at high schools in Minneapolis and St. Paul, and the ones coming there for competitions from all over the Midwest, play funk beats (even more so than the kind of Southern college bands portrayed in the movie Drum Line).

And what the dancers on those teams do is basically an updated kind of breakdancing. Very cool. This phenomenon might be everywhere, but because it's not turned into any kind of product, it doesn't get written about.

Also: Do Mexican or Texas bandalero bands count?

― Pete Scholtes, Friday, 5 December 2003 20:18 (twenty-two years ago)

Total classic. even living in new orleans, you can never get sick of the brass bands. one of the heads of the music business program i'm in is one of the co-founders of the dirty dozen, actually. it's only inevitable that a big name hiphop act bring brass bands too the masses. they're just too funky to be overlooked.
hope you enjoy your time here jordan, the weathers just about to get cold for the first time this season (we had like 2 or 3 days of cold a few weeks ago, but other than that it's been beautiful weather)

― Felcher (Felcher), Friday, 5 December 2003 21:48 (twenty-two years ago)

Jordan:

Who'd you see in New orleans?

― Steve Kiviat (Steve K), Monday, 8 December 2003 18:30 (twenty-two years ago)

Yeah, um, it was fucking cold in New Orleans this weekend. At least Sunday was nice, that's when the second line was.

Steve, I saw Hot Eight Brass Band about five times at different parties and bars (god, they're just the best), Rebirth at the second line (along with David Andrews and some other guys from New Birth), and Treme Brass Band at Donna's. I went to see Shannon Powell play there on Sunday night, but he cancelled out and David Torkanowski (sp?) had a pretty decent trio there instead.

― Jordan (Jordan), Tuesday, 9 December 2003 01:37 (twenty-two years ago)

eleven months pass...

Jordan your comp is very good indeed. Thanks to JaXoN for giving it to me (along with other excellent stuffs).

― adam... (nordicskilla), Friday, 12 November 2004 02:42 (twenty-one years ago)

Jordan, what's a good e-mail address to contact you at? Something I sent bounced.

― Rockist_Scientist (rockist_scientist), Friday, 12 November 2004 03:05 (twenty-one years ago)

Wow, I never saw this thread revive. Thanks Adam, I'm glad you got to hear it. Rockist, send me an e-mail at jordan1 at gmail.com, and if that doesn't work, cleftandcloven at gmail.com.

The reason I was searching for this thread: Jess was good enough to put up a Rebirth tune (and a great accompanying post) from that same comp on his blog.

― Jordan (Jordan), Monday, 15 November 2004 20:25 (twenty-one years ago)

initial vinyl copies of Pale Saints' 'In Ribbons' came with a 7" of two of their songs played by the Tintwistle Brass Band. very good it is too.

― koogs (koogs), Tuesday, 16 November 2004 13:48 (twenty-one years ago)

I played trombone in a handful of different (english) brass bands around saddleworth between the ages of about 10 and 18. A lot of the time, we played a lot of horrible arrangements of contemporary pop hits, classic showtunes, and reworked folk songs. BUT. There was also a lot of very good (contemproary, progressive, not remotely oom-pa-pa) stuff written especially for brass, which people rarely get to hear outside those circles. I'd point anyone interested towards Eric Ball, Gilbert Vinter, Elgar Howarth and, for most of my favourite things, Philip Sparke. All listed here:

http://www.harrogate.co.uk/harrogate-band/bbcomp.htm

― JimD (JimD), Tuesday, 16 November 2004 14:10 (twenty-one years ago)

I don't see Phil Frazier, Tyrus Chapman, Kermit Ruffins, or Tuba Fats on that list of composers of "original works for brass band". :>

(I'm just playing, I always forget about the Brit brass band thing)

― Jordan (Jordan), Tuesday, 16 November 2004 15:37 (twenty-one years ago)

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Brass Bands - C/D