New Orleans ten-piece gets funky

Aug 8 2008 By Alan Cross

KINGS Heath may never be the same after tomorrow night.

The Hot 8 Brass Band, one of the most exciting jazz bands around, are appearing at the Hare & Hounds in Kings Heath High Street – and will probably blow the roof off the venue with their New Orleans style of music.

This is no trad band playing twenties arrangements but a ten-piece brass outfit playing funky and dynamic arrangements which include Marvin Gaye classics alongside their own party music which has become a famous part of the new New Orleans sound.

The aftermath of Hurricane Katrina led to them reaching a worldwide audience through their performance in the Spike Lee documentary When The Levees Broke.

This led to a recording deal and the subsequent release and huge success of their version of Marvin Gaye’s Sexual Healing.

If further proof is needed of their pedigree, take a look at their schedule. Today they are playing a major club in Ibiza, tomorrow it’s Kings Heath and on Monday they perform in New Orleans.