THE SOUND of New Orleans, hip hop, and Black America are embodied in The Hot 8 Brass Band who make a welcome return for a Galway International Arts Festival show.
The Hot 8 Brass Band was formed by Bennie Pete, Jerome Jones, and Harry Cook in 1995 in New Orleans and played in Sunday afternoon parades hosted by social and charitable clubs, as well as at traditional jazz funerals and jazz nightclubs.
The band came to international attention when they appeared in Spike Lee’s 2006 documentary, When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts, about the destruction of New Orleans by Hurricane Katrina.
The following year, the band’s inspired cover of Marvyn Gaye’s ‘Sexual Healing’ began being played by DJs Gilles Peterson, Rob Da Bank, and Coldcut, giving the band further exposure.
The band are also involved in New Orleans second-line parades - on street music battles with jazz bands, fighting it out for the largest crowd to listen to their music.The Hot 8 Brass Band play the Róisín Dubh on Monday July 14 at 10pm. For tickets see www.giaf.com
