New Breed Brass Band is putting a fresh spin on a New Orleans tradition - the second-line brass band. The up and coming band has announced their debut album today with music that both honors the second-line tradition and brings it into the future with a mix of funk, rock, hip-hop, R&B and bounce music. Made In New Orleans (out April 28) is a thrilling collection of songs that captures the relentless energy of their street party sensibilities. It was mixed and mastered by Count (The Rolling Stones, Run the Jewels, Radiohead) and produced by Trombone Shorty aka Troy Andrews and recorded at his own Buckjump Studios in New Orleans. Troy is not only bandleader and snare-drummer Jenard Andrews’ uncle but a New Orleans music scene lynchpin and one of its most visible ambassadors.
The album will arrive just in time for New Breed’s performance at Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue’s legendary Treme Threauxdown taking place at the Saenger Theater in New Orleans on April 29. The band is a special guest on the 7th annual edition of this concert, and the lineup also includes Eric Church, Mavis Staples and Robert Glasper.
One week later, New Breed will perform at the Jazz and Heritage Festival, Friday, May 5 at 3:50pm on the Jazz & Heritage stage.
Along with the album announcement, the 9-piece band has released “Drop It How You Feel It.” The song recruits local legends Wild Wayne and the late great 5th Ward Weebie for a joyous bout of toasting that reaches peak street party vibes when they rhyme “Judge Judy” with “booty.” Snares snap and horn lines blare, but the real marvel is when the arrangement strips back and sounds like the band sampling itself — just drums and distant horns — before re-building the controlled chaos to an even higher level.
Listen to “Drop It How You Feel It” here: https://youtu.be/qzgt2qcjWa0
New Breed’s signature sound is influenced by a multitude of artists and Made In New Orleans showcases these influences with traces of expected local antecedents like Rebirth Brass Band and Soul Rebels Brass Band, but also funk arrangements inspired by Earth, Wind & Fire and Tower Of Power as well as rhythmic twists pulled from Cuban jazz, New Orleans bounce beats, and even rock drummers like Dave Grohl. This is second line music in conversation with everything from Caribbean music to No Limit Records to modern R&B in the vein of Bruno Mars and Anderson Paak’s Silk Sonic. It’s joyful and vital and distinctly of the moment — second line music for and by the next generation. The album features guest appearances by saxophonist Jeff Coffin of The Dave Matthews Band, Kango Slim (of Partners-N-Crime) and hometown bounce music legend Big Choo.
New Breed Brass Band is Jenard Andrews (bandleader and snare-drummer), Revon Andrews (trombone), Mike Brooks (sousaphone), Yirma Yisrael and Orlando Gilbert (saxophone), Emanuel Mitchell and Chris Cotton (trumpet), and Tyreek Andrews and George Brown (bass drum). Jenard himself was born into second-line music: his father is the great New Orleans trumpeter James Andrews, who has played at jazz festivals around the world.
The band made their street debut in November 2013 at the Nine Times Second Line. Since then, they have showcased their originality touring in North America and Europe as well as opening for such diverse bands as The Fray, Red Baraat, Blackalicious, Dr. John, The Waterboys, and Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue. With Made In New Orleans, they’ve forged a new path for 21st century second lines — it’s just up to listeners to follow their lead down the parade route.
Pre-Order Made In New Orleans here: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/newbreedbrassband/made-in-new-orleans…
Made In New Orleans Tracklist
Come On Out
Drop It How You Feel It
Can’t Let Go
Move Something
Give It To Me
Tender Fender
Have Some Fun
Treme Island
All On Me
St. Philip Street
Won’t Bow Down
