Issue Articles
Living Up To Its Moniker: The TBC Brass Band
The TBC Brass Band, which closes out this year’s Treme Fall Festival on Saturday, October 26, 2024, has truly lived up to its name. Formed in 2002 by students at Carver and Kennedy high schools, it carried on and remained a unit through devastatingly tough hardships such as hurricane Katrina and the murder of a saxophonist Brandon Franklin.
Delfeayo Marsalis – Uptown Jazz Orchestra: Crescent City Jewels (Troubadour Jass Records)
New Orleans enjoys any number of unique, robust aspects of life that can be considered its precious stones. As the birthplace of jazz, its singular musical culture, being so closely linked to the African diaspora, is regaled around the world. On trombonist and bandleader Delfeayo Marsalis latest release, Crescent City Jewels, the musicians in his full capacity Uptown Jazz Orchestra represent a collection of sparking gems who carry on and extend this city’s traditions and, importantly, have fun doing just that.
Jim Markway: Comrades (Independent)
Bassist Jim Markway gathers many of his New Orleans musical associates together in various combinations on his aptly titled release, Comrades. As regulars on the jazz scene, it is more than likely these musicians have shared a bandstand or at least run across each other.
Basher: May Day (Independent)
Multiple reedman and composer Byron Asher could be considered predictably unpredictable as he seems determined to stir things up. For instance, on May Day, on which the band is called Basher, he employs a pared down group with just his tenor, the alto sax of Aurora Nealand, Daniel Meinecke working on synthesizer and two drummers, Brad Webb and Zach Phea. On his previously OffBeat reviewed album Lord, When You Send the Rain, he leads an 11-piece ensemble dubbed Byron Asher’s Skrontch Music. So, it goes.
Young Men Olympian Jr. Celebrates Its Amazing 140th Anniversary
It’s difficult to conceive that the Young Men Olympian Jr. Benevolent Association has been active since 1884, just over to 20 years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation freeing enslaved people in the United States. One can imagine, however, how important the organization was at the time when one of its prime functions was to provide burial services to Blacks who during that era were denied life insurance by white owned companies.
Miles Berry: Lost for You (Independent)
Saxophonist Miles Berry makes his recording debut as leader on the fine release Lost for You. Impressively, the upcoming, New Orleans musician steps out working on an album filled with material from his own pen.
Bria Skonberg: What It Means (Cellar Music Group)
Trumpeter and vocalist Bria Skonberg’s What It Means gets off to a terrific start on the jazz classic “Comes Love.” Herlin Riley’s wonderfully rumbling drums dominate the first couple of bars before Skonberg steps in with her trumpet muted, adding to the slinky atmosphere.
Genres Be Damned: Steve Lands and Kosmi(k)rewe makes his Satchmo SummerFest debut
How one might musically perceive trumpeter Steve Lands primarily depends on where you caught him be it at a live show, on a recording or even blowing his horn behind a gospel choir. The versatile musician, who’s making his Satchmo Summerfest debut as a leader, doesn’t play favs when it comes to styles.
PJ Morton: Capetown to Cairo (Morton Records / Empire)
The musical the brotherhood and sisterhood that exists between the African continent and New Orleans is instantly recognized on “Smoke and Mirrors,” the exciting opening cut of PJ Morton’s Capetown to Cairo. Initially recorded in Nigeria, acoustic African drums get this tune started and then Morton’s keyboards and a New Orleans horn section jumps in, and things get funky big time Crescent City style.
Byron Asher’s Skrontch Music: Lord, When You Send the Rain (Sinking City Records)
Byron Asher, who plays multiple reed instruments, leads his 11-piece ensemble, Skrontch Music, in a program of his compositions and concepts. In several respects, this talent-packed group of some of New Orleans finest players, works in an orchestral-like setting particularly during the album’s early cuts. Later, the music and vibe change dramatically.
