Brass Band

Is That a Riot?
$11.98
This album continues to push what brass bands are capable of. If you are a fan of music, please check this out.

Their website still has most of this album to listen to, check it out:
www.youngbloodbrassband.com

Right off the bat, "March" hits you with more energy than one should be able to handle. A quick build into screaming trumpets sets the tone for the album. A bit of instrumental, a bit of poetic lyrics, all great.

"Nuclear Summer" brings a great mix of feel, musicality and fun. This is my favorite tune on the album. The emotion coming from the emcee is clear and passionate, and the band follows suit. The ability of the band is realized here.

"Waiver" lets the listener relax for a minute after two high energy openers. The trumpets are very dissonant, yet somehow pull it off very well. The intonation and control they have make it work well and they add perfect atmosphere. A great tune to hear the sax player's chops.

The rest of the album is a great balance of standard brass band energy mixed with the innovative writing of the YBB. "Is That A Riot" seems a bit like a try at another "Brooklyn," however that is the only down point of the album. It is a great tune, nonetheless.

Ultimate Rebirth Brass Band
$17.98
This CD is near and dear to my heart as a DC native who has a grandfather who hails from New Orleans. He took me to see Rebirth in New Orleans, and I've been a brass band junkie ever since. I'm a big fan of old school Dirty Dozen and Rebirth Brass Band. This compilation is a good way for those looking for an introduction to Rebirth to find out whether they prefer the jazz influenced, hip-hop, or trad sound of Rebirth.

I feel that Rebirth has three phases. First, they were kids from Treme trying to be like their heroes in bands like the Dirty Dozen. Early Rebirth is not really represented on this compilation and you're better off checking out the album "Here to Stay" if you want to hear that stuff. That's before they were with Rounder Records so I'm not suprised that it's not on the compilation. Second, they were the kings of New Orleans with Phil Frazier rocking the bottom on the tuba and Kermit Ruffins on the frontlines with a fat trumpet sound. "Do Whatcha Wanna" was a regional hit and it's on this compilation. Finally, Rebirth is kind of the old school hip-hop equivalent of the brass band movement. Tracks like "New Orleans Music" and the final track with "My Thing" represent Rebirth originals that have some hip-hop style chants in them.

Fans will like some of the cover tunes represented here. "Let's Do It Again" by the Staple Singers show their old school soul leanings and "Ate Up the Apple Tree" show New Orleans traditional sound. There's also excerpts from their monster 24 minute medley on their Live At the Maple Leaf LP. That's an album you need to hear in its entirety, though. For folks in the DC area, that's frequently available at the local library if you want to check out what they've been up to.

I'm really pleased to hear that Kermit Ruffins and the Rebirth linked up again on a new CD. Kermit left Rebirth a few years back to pursue more of a Louis Armstrong traditional sound. Hopefully, this new project means that the parting was amicable and Rebirth and Kermit can link up from time to time for positive projects.

Rebirth has done so much for New Orleans music, black music, jazz music, funk music, and just about any other kind of good music you can think of. It's a shame these brothers are underground.

For those who are Rebirth heads and already have a lot of their stuff, the cover of Bustin' Loose that opens the compilation is slammin'! I've always said that "Feel Like Funkin' It Up" is basically "Bustin' Loose" and they probably ought to give Chuck Brown from DC composer credit. Well, here they give the Godfather of Go-go his props and cover his tune straight up.

New Orleans brass bands and DC go-go need to get together now more than ever before with the way that DC gives New Orleans a raw shake on the Katrina stuff.

Please support this music and check this out....

4.5 stars

--SD

Ultimate Rebirth Brass Band
$9.99
This CD is near and dear to my heart as a DC native who has a grandfather who hails from New Orleans. He took me to see Rebirth in New Orleans, and I've been a brass band junkie ever since. I'm a big fan of old school Dirty Dozen and Rebirth Brass Band. This compilation is a good way for those looking for an introduction to Rebirth to find out whether they prefer the jazz influenced, hip-hop, or trad sound of Rebirth.

I feel that Rebirth has three phases. First, they were kids from Treme trying to be like their heroes in bands like the Dirty Dozen. Early Rebirth is not really represented on this compilation and you're better off checking out the album "Here to Stay" if you want to hear that stuff. That's before they were with Rounder Records so I'm not suprised that it's not on the compilation. Second, they were the kings of New Orleans with Phil Frazier rocking the bottom on the tuba and Kermit Ruffins on the frontlines with a fat trumpet sound. "Do Whatcha Wanna" was a regional hit and it's on this compilation. Finally, Rebirth is kind of the old school hip-hop equivalent of the brass band movement. Tracks like "New Orleans Music" and the final track with "My Thing" represent Rebirth originals that have some hip-hop style chants in them.

Fans will like some of the cover tunes represented here. "Let's Do It Again" by the Staple Singers show their old school soul leanings and "Ate Up the Apple Tree" show New Orleans traditional sound. There's also excerpts from their monster 24 minute medley on their Live At the Maple Leaf LP. That's an album you need to hear in its entirety, though. For folks in the DC area, that's frequently available at the local library if you want to check out what they've been up to.

I'm really pleased to hear that Kermit Ruffins and the Rebirth linked up again on a new CD. Kermit left Rebirth a few years back to pursue more of a Louis Armstrong traditional sound. Hopefully, this new project means that the parting was amicable and Rebirth and Kermit can link up from time to time for positive projects.

Rebirth has done so much for New Orleans music, black music, jazz music, funk music, and just about any other kind of good music you can think of. It's a shame these brothers are underground.

For those who are Rebirth heads and already have a lot of their stuff, the cover of Bustin' Loose that opens the compilation is slammin'! I've always said that "Feel Like Funkin' It Up" is basically "Bustin' Loose" and they probably ought to give Chuck Brown from DC composer credit. Well, here they give the Godfather of Go-go his props and cover his tune straight up.

New Orleans brass bands and DC go-go need to get together now more than ever before with the way that DC gives New Orleans a raw shake on the Katrina stuff.

Please support this music and check this out....

4.5 stars

--SD

Brass Band World
$105.00
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