Rebirth Brass Band

Rebirth Brass Band
Name	Rebirth Brass Band
Origin	New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
Genres	Brass band, funk, jazz, Afro-Caribbean
Years active	1983–present
Labels	Rounder, Lincoln Records, Shout! Factory, Nonesuch

Rebirth Brass Band is an American brass band formed in New Orleans in 1983 that fused traditional New Orleans jazz brass band practices with contemporary funk, hip hop, and Afro-Caribbean rhythms. The ensemble emerged from the city's neighborhoods and second line parading culture, performing at social aid and pleasure clubs, festivals, and clubs throughout Louisiana and internationally. Over decades the group collaborated with, influenced, and shared stages with artists and institutions across jazz, R&B, and popular music scenes.

History

Rebirth Brass Band began in the early 1980s amid the cultural milieu of New Orleans neighborhoods such as the Tremé and the broader Louisiana music ecosystem that produced ensembles like the Preservation Hall Jazz Band and artists such as Allen Toussaint, Dr. John, and Fats Domino. The band's founders were connected to local institutions including St. Augustine High School and regional parading traditions tied to organizations like the Zulu Social Aid & Pleasure Club and the Mardi Gras Indians. Early gigs came from performances at weddings, funerals, and the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, later expanding to national tours and appearances at venues associated with Lincoln Center and festivals such as Montreux Jazz Festival and Glastonbury Festival. Building on the lineage of brass ensembles like the Tuxedo Brass Band and the Onward Brass Band, the group evolved through the economic and environmental challenges of Hurricane Katrina and the post-Katrina cultural recovery anchored by organizations like the New Orleans Musicians' Clinic and Tipitina's Foundation.

Musical Style and Influences

Musically, the ensemble blends traditional Dixieland and New Orleans blues brass band instrumentation—trumpet, trombone, saxophone, sousaphone, snare, and bass drum—with grooves drawn from James Brown, Parliament-Funkadelic, and contemporary hip hop producers. The band’s repertoire references the social role of second line parades, the call-and-response patterns common to gospel music figures such as Mahalia Jackson, and rhythmic elements from Afro-Cuban music and Caribbean music traditions like calypso and soca. Their approach shows lineage to historical ensembles including the Fairview Baptist Church Marching Band and aligns with the modern fusion efforts of musicians like Wynton Marsalis, Trombone Shorty, and groups associated with the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra.

Band Members and Lineup Changes

The personnel of the band has changed over time, reflecting both family ties common in New Orleans scenes—connections to musicians from The Dirty Dozen Brass Band and the Young Fellaz Brass Band—and collaborations with touring artists from Prince, The Rolling Stones, and Bruce Springsteen. Key instrumental roles have rotated among trumpet players, trombonists, saxophonists, and sousaphonists active in the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame circuit and conservatory programs at institutions like the University of New Orleans and Southern University at New Orleans. Changes in lineup coincided with recording contracts at labels such as Rounder Records and Nonesuch Records, and guest appearances brought in performers associated with Allen Toussaint, Marc Broussard, Irma Thomas, and members of the Mardi Gras Indians tradition.

Discography

The group’s recorded output spans studio albums, live releases, and compilation appearances on labels with catalogues alongside artists like Béla Fleck, Elliott Smith, and Tom Waits. Notable releases entered catalogs curated by institutions such as the Smithsonian Folkways-adjacent archives and featured production collaborations linked to producers who worked with Bonnie Raitt and Ry Cooder. Their albums have been marketed internationally through distributors that handle work by Buena Vista Social Club and Buju Banton, appearing on playlists and radio rotations alongside tracks by Dr. John and Louis Armstrong.

Notable Performances and Awards

The ensemble has performed at marquee venues and events such as the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, Bonnaroo Music Festival, and international stages including the Montreux Jazz Festival and BBC Proms-adjacent events. They have shared bills with mainstream and legacy acts including Paul Simon, Sting, and B.B. King, and participated in benefit concerts alongside figures connected to Red Hot Organization and disaster relief efforts post-Hurricane Katrina. Recognition includes industry awards and nominations from institutions akin to the Grammy Awards and honors presented by municipal entities such as the City of New Orleans and cultural nonprofits like The National Endowment for the Arts.

Legacy and Influence on New Orleans Music

The band’s synthesis of parade tradition with contemporary popular forms influenced successors in the regional scene—artists and groups such as Jon Batiste, Nicholas Payton, Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah, and ensembles that emerged from the Treme and Bywater neighborhoods. Their model reinforced entrepreneurial paths for New Orleans musicians through touring circuits, education partnerships with institutions like Tulane University and the Louisiana State University music programs, and collaborations with cultural entities such as the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation. Their legacy is evident in the persistence of brass-band elements in mainstream recordings, film soundtracks, and the programming of festivals from Coachella to SXSW.

Category:American brass bands Category:Musical groups from New Orleans