Drummer Derrick Freeman leads the Soul Brass Band, which was formed just a year ago. Its name was obtained by pure circumstance with no intention of stepping on the toes of the well-established, world-renowned brassy Soul Rebels. Here’s how it went down.

A friend of Freeman called him and said that noted rap, neo-soul and contemporary rhythm and blues artist CeeLo Green wanted to shoot a video in New Orleans to go with...