The Dirty Dozen Brass Band

The Dirty Dozen Brass Band
Shinobu Kitano · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Name	Dirty Dozen Brass Band
Caption	The band performing in New Orleans
Origin	New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
Genres	Jazz, Funk, R&B, Brass band, Soul
Years active	1977–present
Labels	Arhoolie, Columbia, Rounder, Justin Time
Associated acts	Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Trombone Shorty, Dr. John, Fats Domino

The Dirty Dozen Brass Band is an American brass band formed in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1977. They revitalized the New Orleans brass band tradition by blending jazz with funk, R&B, soul and hip hop sensibilities, influencing generations of musicians and reshaping modern brass band repertoire. The ensemble has performed at venues and events including Newport Jazz Festival, Montreux Jazz Festival, Glastonbury Festival, and the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.

History

The group formed in the late 1970s amid postwar New Orleans scenes linked to Fats Domino, Professor Longhair, Allen Toussaint, and the legacy of the Louis Armstrong era. Early members emerged from the social aid and pleasure club circuit associated with Second Line parades, St. Augustine and Treme communities, and traditions connected to Benny Goodman-era swing and Duke Ellington's orchestration. They gained local notoriety performing at Tipitina's and neighborhood clubs, then recorded for Arhoolie Records before signing with Columbia Records. Tours and festival appearances placed them alongside acts such as Paul Simon, Prince, Michael Jackson, and ensembles like Preservation Hall Jazz Band, helping spawn a brass revival that intersected with the careers of Wynton Marsalis and Branford Marsalis.

Musical Style and Influences

Their sound synthesizes elements from New Orleans R&B icons like Dr. John and Professor Longhair, the improvisational vocabulary of Miles Davis and John Coltrane, and the groove-oriented approach of James Brown and Sly Stone. They incorporate marching repertoire from Mardi Gras Indians traditions, parade arrangements linked to St. Augustine crews, and jazz phrasing reminiscent of Louis Armstrong and Sidney Bechet. Later recordings show influences from contemporary artists such as Public Enemy, Herbie Hancock and Billie Holiday, as well as fusion sensibilities that parallel Weather Report and Tower of Power.

Notable Members and Lineups

Founding and long-tenured musicians include trumpeters, saxophonists, trombonists and rhythm players with ties to regional institutions like Xavier University of Louisiana and St. Augustine High School (New Orleans). Notable figures associated with the ensemble's evolution include veteran horn players who shared stages with Harry Connick Jr. and studio musicians who recorded with Allen Toussaint and Dr. John. Collaborators and alumni moved between projects with Trombone Shorty, Kermit Ruffins, Irma Thomas, Allen Toussaint, and members of The Meters, reflecting the interconnected networks of Preservation Hall Jazz Band and local session musicians who contributed to albums produced by labels such as Rounder Records and Justin Time Records.

Discography

The band's recordings span independent and major labels, beginning with releases on Arhoolie Records and progressing through albums issued by Columbia Records and Rounder Records. Key albums appeared during the 1980s and 1990s alongside contemporaneous releases by Wynton Marsalis and live festival recordings from Newport Folk Festival sets. The catalog includes studio sessions produced in studios linked to Cosimo Matassa and engineers who worked with Fats Domino and Little Richard. Reissues and anthology compilations have been distributed by specialty imprints that also represent artists like Professor Longhair and Allen Toussaint.

Collaborations and Influence

The ensemble collaborated with figures across genres, performing or recording with artists such as Dr. John, Paul McCartney, Tina Turner, Mystikal, Rebirth Brass Band, and orchestral projects tied to Lincoln Center programs. Their influence is evident in the rise of contemporary New Orleans acts including Trombone Shorty, Rebirth Brass Band, Hot 8 Brass Band, and artists who fuse brass traditions with hip hop like Big Freedia. Educational outreach and workshops connected them to institutions such as Tulane University, Louisiana State University, and community arts programs supported by National Endowment for the Arts initiatives.

Awards and Recognition

They received honors from municipal and cultural bodies in New Orleans, Louisiana, recognition on national stages including nominations and awards from institutions aligned with Grammy Awards, and lifetime achievement acknowledgments paralleling those given to peers like Allen Toussaint and Fats Domino. Festival appearances, commemorative proclamations by the City of New Orleans, and inclusion in documentary films and broadcasts on networks such as PBS and BBC have cemented their status as torchbearers of New Orleans musical heritage.

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