Ultimate Rebirth Brass Band

About

New Orleans brass bands have been around since the 19th century, but in the ‘70s and ’80s a new crop of groups emerged. Outfits like the Rebirth Brass Band introduced elements from R&B, funk, hip- hop, and modern jazz into traditional music that is famous for its irresistible marching rhythms. (Tuba player Philip Frazier; his brother, bass drummer Keith Frazier; and trumpeter Kermit Ruffins were among the musicians who founded the group in 1983.) This 2004 best-of collection is a great party album. The drums and tuba drive the muscular horn section, the soloists burn, and the players often break into chant or sing along with the funky grooves. <i>Ultimate</i> displays quite a range. The comp includes covers of the Bill Withers and Grover Washington hit, “Just the Two of Us,” <i>and</i> the Miles Davis classic, “All Blues,” and for good measure, a Bob Marley tune gets tossed into “Let’s Do It Again.” But the music hangs together since the band New Orlean-izes everything it touches; call it a musical gumbo. This is a joyful batch of tracks by one of the best groups in the genre.

via Apple Music