Black Tie Brass (BTB) is a horn driven jazz funk band from New York City. They’re releasing their second album called Mostly Covered on the 19th of January, 2019 on which you’ll find three original songs and three cover songs given their signature arrangement and orchestration style.

“We combine some of our favorite funk tunes with arranging pop songs in our own way alongside our own originals. We want to keep you dancing and singing a song when you walk out.” says the band leader, Ryan McNulty and adds: “Mostly Covered has been a long time coming and you won’t be disappointed with our growth as musicians and as a band!”

They released their first self-titled album after a successful Kickstarter campaign in 2014.

BTB combine the presence of a New Orleans brass band with the sound of a funk band create a musically invigorating experience. Having played together for many years, the core of the group came together in 2013. Drawing from many genres such as jazz, pop, funk, R&B, and hip-hop, they created a fulfilling musical experience for performer and listener.

Black Tie Brass has been the backing band for numerous acts from Nick Tangorra to Robbie Rosen to Sal “The Voice” Valentinetti. Under the artistic direction of Ryan McNulty, BTB performed on Sal Valentinetti’s debut album which hit #1 hit #1 on the Billboard Jazz, iTunes Jazz, and Amazon Jazz charts.

If Django Reinhardt, Dmitri Shostakovich and Claude Debussy ever sat down to write an album, the result may not have been too far from violinist Tobie Medland’s vision for The Aviary (July 7th, Future Fable Records).

Known for his work on the gypsy jazz scene - including as founder of the Gypsy Jazz Festival of London - Medland presents a refined, modern, avante-garde and genre spanning take on a style which rose to popularity almost 100 years ago.

Originally founded as a quartet, the group has grown to include several heavyweights of the British Jazz scene following the success of their debut record ‘Apparitions’. Joined by Sam Leak on piano, Tom Smith on clarinet, and a string section of Kit Massey, Helen Sanders-Hewett and Shirley Smart, the ensemble’s new sound is rich, complex, and full of twists and turns.

Rooted in a contemporary spin on gypsy jazz, the ensemble are influenced by 20th Century Classical composers Shostakovich, Debussy and Bartok as well as the likes of Joe Pass, Django Rheinhardt, and Joe Henderson. Juxtaposing atonality, free improvisation, and darkness with jovial melodies, driving swung grooves and bright harmony, their immersive world presents an undeniably fresh perspective on an underappreciated genre.

On the surface, the project - as the artwork suggests - is inspired by a fantastical and colourful world of rare birds and the personalities and individual tales of these strange avians. Dive deeper, though, and It’s a welcome touch of escapism, born out of a newfound love of covid-era adventure-cycling and bird-spotting which became a driving force in dealing with recent bereavements.

The Aviary are a rare voice in the UK: Queer-led, drumless arrangements, driving rhythms, soaring melodies and atonal soundscapes support virtuosic but tasteful group improvisation and characterful performances. Ever future facing, the quartet offer a fresh, distinctive, dark and unmistakably modern sound.

Tobie Medland | Violin, composition Tom Smith | Clarinet Sam Leak | Piano Kit Massey | Violin Helen Sanders-Hewitt | Viola Shirley Smart | Cello Bim Williams | Archtop guitar Sol Grimshaw | Rhythm guitar Marcus Penrose | Double Bass