“I CANNOT get enough of these guys, they soothe the soul.” So said US president Barack Obama about the Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, who play Strange Brew in the Róisín Dubh on Thursday December 10 at 9pm.
With fans like Barack Obama, who invited them to perform and help on his rallies in the run up to his election as US president, Talking' Heads' David Byrne, Q-Tip, Jay-Z, Erykah Badu, and Jools Holland this ensemble is no ordinary collective. Their music is a thrilling combination of jazz, funk, soul, and hip-hop.
“At night we used to sneak under the covers and listen to NWA and Public Enemy. Ice Cube and Eazy-E were our heroes," said the band, about their hip hop roots. "We used to hum. We used to all hum the same way that we play our horns now, everybody on beat boxes or making harmonies, and we’d pass the mike around and rap.”
The HBE is made up of eight brothers, all of whom are the sons of Sun Ra trumpeter and songwriter Phil Cohran. They have been playing together since they were children. Their live shows are high energy affairs, get ready to sweat, dance, and be converted to the band.
Tickets are available at www.roisindubh.net, the Ticket Desk at OMG Zhivago, Shop Street, and The Róisín Dubh.
