Hot 8 Brass Band

Hot 8 Brass Band
Hot 8 playing funeral for New Orleans blogger Ashley Morris, April 2008
Background information
Origin	New Orleans, Louisiana
Genres	Jazz, Hip hop, Funk
Years active	1995–Present
Labels	Tru Thoughts
Website	www.hot8brassband.com

The Hot 8 Brass Band is a Grammy Nominated New Orleans based brass band that blends hip-hop, jazz and funk styles with traditional New Orleans brass sounds. It was formed by Bennie Pete, Jerome Jones, and Harry Cook in 1995,^[1] the merging of two earlier bands, the Looney Tunes Brass Band and the High Steppers Brass Band.^[2]

In their twenty-plus-year career they have toured the globe, sharing their remarkable story and playing their incendiary music, bringing together a roof raising, rambunctious and world-renowned mix of hip hop, funk and inimitable Big Easy jazz. The outfit toasted their 20th Anniversary in 2015, and have lived an incredible story of tragedy and triumph that comes through loud and clear in their life-affirming, party-starting music. Their latest fifth album 'On The Spot' (released in March 2017 via Tru Thoughts, to acclaim from The Observer, Songlines, Billboard) commemorated their most extensive year of touring yet, taking them across Europe, Australasia and North America. Packed full of milestone events it included a roof-raising sell out show at London's Roundhouse, an invitation to perform at the Brighton Festival curated by Kate Tempest, and an unforgettable set opening Glastonbury Festival's West Holts stage which drew one of the biggest crowds of its time.

Music

Hot 8 have performed and collaborated with artists from Lauryn Hill to Basement Jaxx and Mos Def to the Blind Boys of Alabama, as well as being featured in films and TV shows including the hit HBO series Treme. In their constantly evolving live show, they mix anthemic covers - including their celebrated version of Marvin Gaye's “Sexual Healing” and The Specials “Ghost Town” - with highly creative original songs and charismatic MC-ing, for a beat-heavy brass showdown that honours their city’s musical traditions while forging their own powerful legacy.

“We are privileged to tour and to tell the stories of life in our city, to keep alive the memories of our band members who have passed, as well as all the musicians who have gone before”, says band leader and tuba player Bennie Pete. “We can’t wait to share this new music and party with our fans, who help us to keep pushing ourselves on”.

Wherever they are, Hot 8 bring the unique, undiluted energy of the New Orleans Second Line parades. Their latest LP captures the energy of live performance like never before, and in the live arena the tunes are set to blow up. Pairing hard-hitting, heart-on-sleeve sentiment with party-fuelling beats, hooks and grooves, Hot 8’s music is buzzing with the live, spontaneous synchronicity which has fuelled their development from the streets of New Orleans to the forefront of the global scene over the last two decades.

Membership

Four members of the band have died since its formation.^[3] Past and present band members include:

Discography

In October 2007, the band released Rock with The Hot 8, their first studio album, on the Tru Thoughts label.^[4] Hot 8 Brass Band was featured on Down in New Orleans, the 2008 album by the Blind Boys of Alabama. They released their second studio album, The Life and Times of the Hot 8 Brass Band in November 2012.^[5] May 2013 saw the release of "Tombstone," the sister album to "The Life and Times ...," a recording mostly dedicated to former band members, living and dead.^[6] 2015 saw the release of their career spanning best of, 'Vicennial - 20 Years Of The Hot 8 Brass Band'. 'On The Spot' dropped in March 2017 to heavy acclaim from The Observer, Songlines, Billboard, accompanied by their biggest tour to date.

Violent deaths of group members

The band has also been mentioned in the U.S. media because three of its members, all of whom were between the ages of 17 and 25, have died over the years due to handgun violence.

In 1996, seventeen-year-old trumpet player Jacob Johnson was found shot execution-style in his home.^[7]

In 2004, trombone player Joseph "Shotgun Joe" Williams was shot dead by police in controversial circumstances. According to a local news source:^[8]

According to New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) accounts, officers were stopping 22-year-old trombonist Joe Williams for driving an allegedly stolen vehicle when Williams slammed the white Ford F-150 into reverse, accelerating into an NOPD squad car and officer. His actions, says Deputy Superintendent Marlin Defillo, caused officers to fear for their lives and thus open fire, killing Williams.

The same source reported that several eyewitnesses say that police shot Williams while he was unarmed and his hands were in the air.^[8]

In 2006, drummer Dinerral "Dick" Shavers was shot and killed while driving with his family. According to The Times-Picayune:^[9]

Dinerral Shavers, 25, died from a gunshot to the back of his head at about 5:30 p.m. while behind the wheel of his black Chevrolet Malibu in the 2200 block of Dumaine Street… His family was not injured… Although critically wounded, Shavers continued driving four blocks up Dumaine before stopping. By 6 p.m., Shavers lay motionless on his back in the middle of the street just outside the open driver's side door… Shavers was taken to a hospital, but died within an hour.

Police said the bullet was intended for Shavers's fifteen-year-old stepson.^[10] The Hot 8 Brass Band played at Shavers' funeral.^[7]

References

Bibliography

• Leland, Jacob (August 2011). "The Hot 8 Brass Band: Home in My Horn". OffBeat (music magazine). Retrieved December 2, 2011.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hot 8 Brass Band.

External links

• Hot 8 official site
• Hot 8 Documentary