In Formations

The final part of this week’s program was a honking line of forward, on!

On the Move- Chromeo Ft. Cannons
Göç Mevsimi- Peki Momés
Names in the Sky- The Secret Garden Ft. Jo Wallace
Somethin’ Somethin’- King Pari


Black Saba- The Arab Blues
**pre-recorded conversation with Karim & Rami of The Arab Blues**
Fakarouny- The Arab Blues
Sweet Munyati- The Arab Blues


C’mon Every Beatbox- Smoke and Mirrors Sound System Ft. Zoe Devlin
Rid Them (Piper Street Sound RMX)- Piper Street Sound
Exodus- Novalima
The Lockdown Reel- Afro Celt Sound System


Sufi Habibi- Karavan Sarai

On The Streets

The middle part of this week’s proGram had a chance to get out on that town.

I Put a Spell on You- Samantha Fish (Live)
Gang Woman- The Zac Schulze
Halo- Eddie 9V
Take Time to Taste It- Devon Allman
Sahara- Devon Allman


Bus Stop- King Llama
Orange Was the Color of Her Dress, Then Blue Silk- Thumbscrew


I Feel It- The Allergies
Sunrise- The Baker Brothers Ft. Hannah Williams


Them Changes- James Biscuit Rouse
***pre-recorded conversation with Biscuit Rouse***
Down By The River- James Biscuit Rouse


Not Fade Away- Grateful Brass Ft. Erin Honeywell LIVE Guild Theater 2​/​13​/​24
Big Tuba- Hot 8 Brass Band

In The Breeze

The first portion of this week’s proGram was getting a little help finding the wind beneath itself.

Spying By The Numbers- Librarians with Hickeys
Always- The Coward Brothers


3:35 AM- Mississippi MacDonald
Long, Lean, and Lanky- Mitch Woods
Sold Gold Cadillac- Mitch Woods
Street People- JD Simo & Luther Dickinson
Right Down There- JD Simo & Luther Dickinson


Soul Theme- Jimmy Carpenter
Grizzle n’ Bone- Tas Cru (live)
Tush- Joe Flip (live)


Concrete Blues- Randy Lee Riviere
Mojo Thief- Kat Riggins & Her Blues Revival
Don’t Feel So God Today- Bruce Katz Band (live)

Biscuit & Buddy from James BISCUIT Rouse

James “Biscuit” Rouse, a native of Philadelphia, is a highly sought-after drummer with a remarkable track record. Not only has he showcased his drumming prowess, but he has also served as the musical director for renowned artists such as Miss Lauryn Hill, Vivian Green, & Syleena Johnson. Biscuit’s musical journey has encompassed a diverse range of genres, from collaborating on House music projects with producer Kenny “Dope” Gonzales to touring alongside notable figures such as Living Colour, Ashanti, Kelis, Nile Rodgers, Vernon Reid, & the Screaming Headless Torsos. Biscuit has also proven himself as a skilled producer & songwriter, collaborating with a multitude of exceptional artists. Noteworthy among these collaborations is his work with the award-winning Haitian producer and film scorer Jerry Wonda (of Fugees fame). Biscuit’s collaboration with the rising artist “The Violin Diva” resulted in the production of the enchanting track “Bethlehem,” featured in the 2022 film “Miracle Before Christmas.” Biscuit is now preparing to release his debut album “Buddy and Biscuit”, which celebrated its worldwide release in the Autumn-time of 2024 on German funk/jazz label Leopard Records, part of Broken Silence Distribution. For this release, Rouse has taken the repertoire from Buddy Miles, re-imagined it in his own style and created the first ever Buddy Miles Tribute Album. It features songs that are Buddy’s classics such as “Life is What You Make It” and the Neil Young penned song “Down by the River”, which Buddy made popular. Biscuit chose to make this project because George ‘Buddy’ Miles has inspired him as a musician. ‘Buddy’ is the blueprint for what Biscuit is as a musician & musical director. The Tribute album is very timely, as the underrated soul funk legend is finally being recognized and was inducted into the R&B Hall of Fame on Sunday, October 6th at a ceremony where Biscuit will accept the award on the family’s behalf with an acceptance speech.

I had the honor of chatting it up with Biscuit to get a little deeper into the way this album came toGether. I had no idea that we’d get into talking about family to the program, Mr. Greg Tate of our Burnt Sugar the Arkestra Chamber family, and how his words are part of this journey. We dive into a couple of the tracks that it turns out where the first to be worked through, “Down By The River” and “Them Changes”, both of which show off a foundation that is recognized but a new groove to enhance that feeling of nostalgia. Vernon Reid‘s part in this is a fun story that sounds like the way it would go and just what was one of the best things Biscuit picked up by working and creating with friend of the program David FUZE Fiuczynski. It was words that I think we all need to hear at some time in our lives. Frankly speaking, I do believe THIS is one of the hottest album of 2024 and I sure hope all the right ears get to it to recognize it.

The Arab Blues Present Saba

The Arab Blues traces a trajectory between tradition and innovation, embodying the call of tradition and the response of the diaspora. The synthesis Rami & Karim create is an auditory expression of not only the power & persistence of tradition but equally the validity of its transformation under the unique cultural conditions they inhabit. The basis of their work is the Turath, the canon of classical Arab compositions & improvisational techniques. This rich heritage consists of melodic & rhythmic exposition and instrumental interaction at countless levels of depth. They interpret these forms in the context of the sounds of the contemporary North American metropole. In this project, the equally lush traditions of Blues & Jazz in Chicago provide the context of how the two approach and assimilate the Turath. This marriage of forms is fruitful because of the emotional range of the Blues and the improvisational flexibility and ingenuity of Jazz. The Arab Blues was developed by Lebanese-Egyptian oud & guitar player Rami Gabriel through a research fellowship at the Center for Black Music Research, 2 Illinois Artist grants, and a decade of experience as a jazz and blues musician in Chicago. Native Egyptian percussionist Karim Nagi, a 2-time beneficiary of the Doris Duke Building Bridges grant for Muslim Artists, a TEDx speaker, and accomplished teacher completes this duo with his energetic & lyrical rhythms on Riqq, Tublah and alternatively assembled drum-set. Chicago inspires this duo to amplify & expand the sound of their Arab folk traditions – discovering the trajectory of their community’s music; the future of their past sound. They are participating in this city’s musical possibilities by celebrating and embodying the potential of the immigrant experience. On their debut full-length album, Saba, The Arab Blues growl & romp their way through original Arabic themes & arrangements in the blues traditions of Chicago, Mississippi, & Mali. Drawing from their acoustic & electric repertoire, the album reflects the anger, protest, and dislocation of our cultural moment. In the hands of The Arab Blues, traditional forms such as the Sama’i (‘Sama’i Kurd guitari’) and Levantine folk music (‘Golan’) are transformed into electrifying journeys. On Saba, an Egyptian and a Lebanese musician make a definitive statement of their sound crafted in Chicago. Forged in the diaspora, this sound bellows freedom, longing, & defiance.

I was very excited to get to spend a little time with Karim & Rami ahead of The Arab Blues October 17th album release event in Madison at the North Street Cabaret. We dive deep into the new album, dissecting a few tracks and not only how they came toGether to form the songs, but the true, human feelings within these tracks that at times smack you right in the face. We talk about humanity, trying to get a solid footing as a group steeped in a traditional music whose people have been vilified in the U.S.. So much of this music and these feeling resonated with me form the moment I hit play, I could FEEL this music and the emotions that clearly went into creating it. There is talk about the influences of both Black Sabbath & Led Zeppelin, where they recently found themselves rocking the same stage the mighty Zep first played. They are in the middle of the Ven Diagram where tradition holds hands with the possibilities of the future and some heavy grooves to help wake people up and open their senses. This show..This album..These people!

An Orb In Time

Final part of this week’s proGram lit the ways.

Break G4S I. The Machine- Ize Trio Ft. John Patitucci
Elemeno I. Be A kid!- Ize Trio Ft. John Patitucci
A Hearty Breakfast- Ryuichi Sakamoto
Beyond Reason- Ryuichi Sakamoto
The Seed And The Sower- Ryuichi Sakamoto


Letters: Pt. 2 (Aftermath)- ARKAI
Milonga Hermética- Dario Acosta Teich Ft. Timna Comedi & Eleanor Dubinsky
Improvisation No. 4 / Les Cinq Doigts, No. 5- Trygve Seim & Frode Haltli


WindBeast- Taka Nawashiro
Merry-Go-Round of Life- Plínio Fernandes
Guachi Guaro- Dred Scott Trio Ft. Tom Beckham
First Steps- Kris Davis Trio Ft. Johnathan Blake & Robert Hurst
Los Otros (The Other Side)- Patricia Brennan Septet


Ball and Chain- M. Azanyah and Mausiki Scales & The Common Ground Collective

Off The Grounds

The middle part of this week’s proGram was a cheery of a find.

Major- Mulatu Astatke And Hoodna Orchestra
Sultan Umnaru’s Trip- Mamman Sani & Tropikal Camel
Little Rays of Sunshine- Sharif Galal


Heaven’s Bad Day- Manu Chao Ft. Willie Nelson
No Hiding Place- Jake Blount & Mali Obomsawin Ft. Sidy Maiga
Issa- Songhoy Blues


Galope- LUIZGA & Edgar Valente
Ay, Ay, Ay- Locomondo w/Amparo Sanchez
Revolução dos cocos- Nomade Orquestra


Ya Dirati- Wishamalii, Ne’mat Battah & Kari Ikonen
Ya Gaus Ya Meeran- Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
Sri Valli- Arun Ramamurthy Trio


**pre-recorded conversation with Maestro Chitravina Ravikiran**

Voodoo Dolls (Version for String Quartet)- Apollo Chamber Players
3 Zweistimmige Lieder, Op. 43: No. 1, Wenn ich ein Vöglein wär- Barbican Quartet (Arr. for String Quartet by Christoph Slenczka)
Pizzicato Polka- ZRI (Arr. by ZRI for Ensemble)

Choices Are There

The first part of this week’s proGram is pretty clear to me.

Sweet Feelin’- Gregg Allman Band (Uncle Sam’s, Hull, MA, 7/1/1983)
You Gotta Make it Through the World- Devon Allman
Trouble- The Mystery Lights
Together Lost- The Mystery Lights


Feast- SPRINTS

greenarrowradio promo- Jade MacRae
Shots Fired- Jade MacRae
Music Maker- Cliff Beach
Anyone In Love- Jalen Ngonda
Loved Up- Joel Sarakula


Sand Castle Head Hunter- The Headhunters
Carlitros- Todd Clouser & JT Bates Ft. John Medeski
Chaser- Calibro 35
Lunedi Cinema- Calibro 35 Ft. Marco Castello

OVK Bach Melharmony Festival 2024

The 2-day Twin Composer Festival in Madison on Oct 19-20 will showcase the works of two trailblazing composers Oottukkadu Venkata Kavi (OVK) from India, who lived from 1700-1765 and his no less illustrious Western contemporary Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750). This Entertainment Extravaganza seeks to not only raise appreciation for the contributions of these two great composers but also aims to raise funds for Planet Symphony for Environment’s Collective Micro Climate Action Movement (CMCAM) initiatives such as Roof & Land Greening and Rainwater Management across the world. The festival will feature concerts by icons of Western & Eastern cultures, dance & theater performances as well as Emerging Artists’ shows. The jewel in the crown will be the Melody, Harmony & Melharmony concert on Oct 20th at 4PM in the Oakwood Auditorium featuring ace Carnatic Violinist V V Subrahmanyam and his son V V S Murari, Chitravina N Ravikiran, the inventor of Melharmony, Apollo Chamber Players (a popular String Quintet from Houston), the iconic Mrdangam player Prof Trichy Sankaran and renowned percussionists Patri Sathish Kumar & K V Gopalakrishnan. Band students of Memorial High School will also present a composition of Maestro Ravikiran arranged by Ben Jaeger, Band Director of Memorial High School. The festival will felicitate Maestros Trichy Sankaran & VV Subrahmanyam with Lifetime Achievement Awards and honour Apollo Chamber Players for their distinguished contributions. Art Patrons Dr C M Venkatachalam & Shekar Viswanathan get special awards for supporting and promoting music, dance and culture in North America. Talent promotion: An important highlight of the event is morning to night concerts on the opening day by emerging talents from WI, IL, MN, NJ, WA, NY, NE, CA and other states as well as from India with eminent artistes such as Bhargavi Balasubramanian, Krithika Natarajan and Rajeev Mukundan. The second day starts off with a musical on the “Life of Oottukkadu Venkata Kavi” by a Chicago based team led by C Ranganathan followed by short recitals by various students of Meenakshi Ganesan’s Kalaanjali Dance Company. The festival will culminate in a choral rendition of select compositions of OVK by artists of North American Melodic Ensemble.

I had the complete honor of speaking with Maestro Chitravina N Ravikiran ahead of this incredible event. We got into a little nbit about what Melharmony is and how it will be showcased. Maestro Ravikiran did a wonderful job filling us in on each performer and their background and the energy they will provide during these unique performances. Each artist heading to Madison for this festival is/are a master(s) in the subject field, and toGether, they will work to open minds, history books and the blinds to a successful path forward thinking about each other and the planet we all reside upon. Not only will the music be uplifting, spontaneous and downright a one of a kind offering, this type of scene would not be complete without the focus on our planet and the initiatives we as individuals can do our small part with to help cool the planet’s warming, ease Mother Nature’s aches and provide stability to a world spinning with daily turmoil that we just cannot wait for other’s to act on. All the information you need on the festival is here including dates/time/location etc. I look forward to seeing you at the main event with your open minds and thirty earholes.

Corey Harris & Cedric Watson: True Blues

Corey Harris & Cedric Watson: True Blues

Millennium Stage at The Kennedy Center

Hosted by friends of the proGram, Corey Harris, a MacArthur Grant recipient, and featuring renowned Creole/blues musician & friend of the proGram, Cedric Watson, True Blues chronicles the extraordinary living culture of the blues in an evening of music and conversation.

Corey Harris was featured in Martin Scorsese Presents the Blues: A Musical Journey, which followed Harris on a roots journey to West Africa. Cedric Watson has an apparently bottomless repertoire of songs at his fingertips; he plays everything from forgotten Creole French melodies and obscure Dennis McGee reels to more modern Cajun and Zydeco songs. Unlike many of his contemporaries, he is also a prolific songwriter, writing almost all of his songs on his double row Hohner accordion. Watson’s songs channel his diverse ancestry (African, French, Native American, and Spanish) to create his own brand of sounds.

Blues is at the center of their artistry, and the blues takes center stage in True Blues, the concert.

Settle The Steam

The final part of this week’s proGram knew to draw it out on the mirror first.

Some Recanting Evening- Brandon Seabrook
**pre-recorded conversation with Brandon Seabrook**
Phenomenal Doggerel- Brandon Seabrook
Gawk Fodder- Brandon Seabrook


Manufacturers Trust Company Building- Patricia Brennan
Coda Queen- Kris Davis Trio Ft. Johnathan Blake & Robert Hurst
Chances Are Odd- Mavis Pan
Manteca- Dred Scott Trio Ft. Tom Beckham
Cali Mambo- Dred Scott Trio Ft. Tom Beckham & Moses Patrou


Coming ‘Round- Caroline Davis
Back Again- Caroline Davis
Only The Names have Changed Part 2- Caroline Davis Ft. Nappy Nina
As Wide as All Outdoors- Janel Leppin


Amor Enfeitiçado- Adrian Younge Ft. Carlos Dafé
Black History- Anthony Joseph

Less Soft Than

The middle part of this week’s proGram had SUM certain sorta feelings.

Nautilus- Calibro 35
Soleil Du Sud 1- Lampen
Baby, I Don’t Care- ATA Records All Stars
Kaunas Baltic Connect- ATA Records All Stars Ft. The Sorcerers
Nowin’- Or Kantor


New Flamingo Magic- Todd Clouser & JT Bates Ft. John Medeski
***pre-recorded conversation with Todd Clouser***
Superbro- Todd Clouser & JT Bates Ft. John Medeski


Radar Truck- Geiger von Muller
Triplet Droplet- Wolfgang Muthspiel
Etude NR. 11- Wolfgang Muthspiel
Etudes NR. 13- Wolfgang Muthspiel


Space Bar- Mike Stern
Dirt Cake- Forq
Kick The Curb- Forq

Mint Conditions

The first part of this week’s proGram smelled good after you touched it.

Rainbow Overpass- Bright Eyes
Old Scratch Blues- Jack White


What We’ve Become- Ashtyn Barbaree

Gloria- Gary Myrick
Earthquake Water- Miranda and the Beat


Come on in My Kitchen- Alastair Greene/Eric Johanson/Katarina Pejak (Blues Caravan 2024)
Roll On Buddy- Eric Bibb
Found A Friend In You- Southern Avenue
Hold Back- The Reverend Shawn Amos (Live in Segovia, Spain, 2024)
Wrong Set of Horses- Little Georgie and the Shuffling Hungarians


The Spin- Koko-Jean & The Tonics
The Right Track- The Emkays
Make It True- The Emkays
Chronic Tonic- The Boom Yeh
Night Wine- Brass Queens

Think Forward With Brandon Seabrook

Brandon Seabrook is a guitarist/banjoist/composer living in New York City where he has established himself as one of the most forward-thinking & versatile guitarists of his generation. He has also made a name for himself as an influential banjo innovator, described by the New York Times as “a man apparently hellbent on earning the title of World’s Least Rustic Banjo Player.” His work focuses on the juxtaposition of hallucinatory soundscapes, angular composition, and a massive dynamic range that can change in a nanosecond. He has released several albums as a leader covering everything from pulverizing art-metal to chamber music bridging the realms of extreme rock & the classical avant-garde. Rolling Stone Magazine noted, “The fiercely dexterous musician has lunched a number of bands combining serious chops with manic intensity and a left- field compositional vision.” Seabrook honed his guitar skills at the New England Conservatory in Boston. He has since performed extensively in North and South America, Mexico and Europe, as a solo artist, bandleader, & collaborator. He has been called upon by titans such as Anthony Braxton, Nels Cline, Cecile McLorin Salvant, So Percussion, & Joey Arias for his idiosyncratic physical performance style , hyperreal technique & impeccable articulation . He has been profiled in the New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Premiere Guitar, Downbeat Magazine, Rolling Stone, NPR, The Chicago Reader, and The Wire. Brandon is an accomplished solo artist, named Best Guitarist in New York City by the Village Voice 2012. In 2014, New Atlantis Records released his first solo album titled “Sylphid Vitalizers.” Noisey called the album a “dissonant guitar army…(with) mind-blowing prog-rock complexities – all at mind-numbing breakneck speed.” Brandon has presented his solo work at Pioneer Works, Sonic Transmissions Festival, Secret Project Robot, NK Berlin, Lima Jazz Festival, Dither Extravaganza, The Smell, Lawrence University, and the Ruidismos Festival in Lima, Peru.

I had the opportunity to catch up with Brandon ahead of his upcoming set on October 12 at the North Street Cabaret, performing along with Todd Clouser’s A Love Electric. We get into the possible outcomes of the sonic exploitations could be when he is doing his thang with guitar (and hopefully banjo). We get into his soon to be released (10/18) new album Object Of Unknown Function on Pyroclastic Records, and dissect one of my favorite tracks from the collection. I could not letr my momet with Brandon go without hearing form him how it felt to be a part of one of the most cool events I watch, the ‘Sculpting Sound with Bertoia’ event last December, and just how being/doing within that landscape opened new avenues.

Photo: DIE-TROMMEL-FATALE-BY-REUBEN-RADDING

The Now Within A Love Electric

An explosive trio of 3 nationalities, A Love Electric, hailed as the tomorrow of creative rock by Mexico City’s leading newspaper, La Jornada, performs at some of the world’s finest rock festivals, jazz clubs, & cultural landmarks. Led by guitarist/vocalist Todd Clouser, a voice recognized as at the forefront of a new generation of genre redefining artists, A Love Electric carries the sonic legacies of psychedelic rock, New York City’s downtown scene, and introspective song into new territories. Having performed all over the globe, ALE has gained praise from critics and fans of rock, jazz, & experimental musics alike. A Love Electric is Todd Clouser (guitar and vocals), Aaron Cruz (bass), and Hernan Hecht (drums), Hecht a Latin Grammy winner for his work as drummer and producer. The three musicians have performed with Steven Bernstein, Anton Fier, Billy Martin, Cyro Baptista, members of Dire Straits, Keb Mo, Tim Berne, Ely Guerra, and more. In there years of aggressive touring throughout the United States, Germany, Spain, Portugal, the Czech Republic, Mexico, and Argentina, A Love Electric have documented their evolution into creative rock supergroup on three records from Brooklyn, NY’s The Royal Potato Family and a solo Clouser album Billy Martin‘s label, Amulet Records. A Love Electric now sits with a sound and approach all its own, defying category & inspiring audiences with their impassioned and prolific approach to creating. A new generation of idea is here. With many more recordings and sonic journeys under each other’s musical belts, now here we find ourselves dodging weirdness in 2024 and there’s more new music and opportunities to see Todd and A Love Electric to aide in making it all seem better.

The best thing about catching up with Todd is that it usually means he is coming to town. This time around it is going to be October 12th at the North Street Cabaret with A Love Electric. I have been ready for this for a long time!! We get into some of the possibilities the night of music could bring and dive head first into the newest album he put out with JT Bates and friend of the proGram, Mr. John Medeski. It’s a ‘surf’ music album titled ‘New Flamingo Magic’. The week Todd and I chatted it up, another friend of the show, Carnage the Execution was in Mexico for a few nights of making differences and making a difference. One of the things Todd does is the give back, so we talk about one of the ways he does it through an annual festival called ‘Lakeside Guitar Festival‘ and his Music Mission Foundation. He and his pal, Molly Maher, who Todd does a lot of his giveback work with, are going to have an opportunity to open for Los Lobos coming up soon as well, so, why not put a little notice on that spectacular event. To hit the old refresh button, Todd took some time off from performing (which does not sound normal to me…for him), so we talk about where he may have found some inspiration or new feelings.

Keep On Go

The final part of this week’s proGram had the pedal down and straight ways coming.

Priorities- Roy Hargrove
Baldwin Manifesto 1- Meshell Ndegeocello
Travel- Meshell Ndegeocello
Love- Meshell Ndegeocello
Obra Akyedzi- Ebo Taylor/Adrian Younge/Ali Shaheed Muhammad


Love Lines- Peter Gall

Keep Falling For It (vocal)- Jonson, Jonson & Jonson
Desert Rose- BABON
TNT- BABON
Amina- Santrofi
Afro Soca- South London Samba


Imma Force- Divinity Roxx & Divi Roxx Kids Ft. Mumu Fresh
Make A Friend- Divinity Roxx & Divi Roxx Kids Ft. Temanay
Girl Dad- Divinity Roxx & Divi Roxx Kids Ft. FYUTCH & Aura V

Always Something

The middle part of the proGram wonders when it may end.

Ma ‘Tit Fille- Rockin’ Dopsie, Jr. & The Zydeco Twisters
I Can’t Lose With The Stuff I Use- Rockin’ Dopsie, Jr. & The Zydeco Twisters
Ain’t Going Down- Blue Moon Marquee
Shake It and Break It- Blue Moon Marquee


Look At Me Now- Brass Queens
***pre-recorded conversation with Ally Chapel of Brass Queens***
Moon Shine- Brass Queens
Take the Throne- Brass Queens


Footwork- Dave Guy
The Green Door- Dave Guy
Avant Clark- The Headhunters
ESP- The Headhunters
Don’t You Wanna Give Me A Call-Chance Hayden Ft. Dante Zapata
Open Back Cab- Chance Hayden


A Little Iowa Get Down- Haynes’ 4 Horns & What (live at B.A.M. 1995)
Tennessee’s a Drag- Janel Leppin Ft. Luke Stewart, Anthony Pirog & Brian Settles
Deprtation Operation- Jeff Lederer Ft. Kirk Knuffke/Bob Stewert/Matt Wilson w/Curtis Hasselbring & Mary Larose

Lookin Upwards

The first part of this week’s proGram had a ceiling within.

Virus- Ani DiFranco
Sweet & Cool- Dan & Claudia Zanes Ft. Munit Mesfin
Jump-O- Dan & Claudia Zanes Ft. kLefta maniak
Boon Time- Greg Copeland


On My Way to San Francisco- Otilia Donaire
Mama Didn’t Raise No Fool- Otilia Donaire
Voodoo Woman- Otilia Donaire
Do Y’all- Vaneese Thomas


Chi-Town Soundcheck- Khalif Wailin Walter
Little Queen- Tab Benoit
Faster- Samantha Fish (live)


Be Your Own Shelter- Kelly Finnigan
Waiting ON The Right Time- Thee Sacred Souls
Matalo! (Theme Song) {single version}- Mario Migliardi


Shoulda Known Betta- Vanessa Collier
Rosetta- Vanessa Collier

Look At Brass Queens Now

Brass Queens is a female-led New York-based brass band w/an all-female horn section that has been dominating the scene since 2019. Finding they shared similar frustrations about the emerging brass band scene in New York City, co-founders Alex Harris & Ally Chapel came together to form a group dedicated to showcasing the talents of female musicians in a landscape that was dominated by male musicians & bandleaders. After debuting in March 2019, Brass Queens grew to be a fixture in the local music scene and was dubbed “the hardest working band in town” by their peers. They gained a dedicated following thru outdoor performances on the streets of Brooklyn and playing pop-up events in their community through the pandemic. A core value of the band is to play for as many audiences as possible to increase the visibility of female bands in the brass band scene. Brass Queens regularly tour across the country & internationally, performing on festival stages including the Ottawa Jazz Festival, Northlands Music Festival, MusikFest, Duck Jazz Festival, and multiple appearances at the Exit Zero Jazz Festival. They have played major events like The Met Gala and for many notable clients including New Balance, Chanel, Tiffany & Co., Bombas, Perrier, Instagram, & Pinterest. They have also performed on national T.V. (Good Morning America) and at iconic venues like The Capitol Theater with multiple shows at the historic Blue Note Jazz Club & Brooklyn Bowl. They are also the 2023 winners of We Love NYC’s Rider’s Choice Award, after the people of New York voted them as their favorite of the MTA’s Music Under New York’s roster of subway performers. The band has developed a signature style that sits right at the intersection of the Big Apple and the Big Easy. Their sound is deeply inspired by and pays homage to the New Orleans brass band tradition while injecting the upbeat, multifaceted energy of their New York home into each performance. The result is a nonstop party: a Brass Queens show will have you singing along to classic pop hits, dancing your heart out to reggaeton, and feeling like you’ve been transported to Frenchman Street. In February 2021, Brass Queens released their debut EP ‘Royal Street’, which takes listeners on a six-song journey beginning in the heart of New York City with a cover of Cameo’s Candy, down to Royal St. with their take on a New Orleans traditional, Little Liza Jane. In 2023, the band released their first full-length album titled ‘Black & Gold’, which is an ode to the Brass Queen’s incredible early fan base who supported the band from the virtual performances & socially-distanced street corners during the COVID-19 pandemic, to the crowded clubs & packed venues of today. On October 18, 2024 they will release their second full-length album titled ‘Hot Tub Sessions Vol. I’.

I had the pleasure of spending a little time with Ally Chapel ahead of the Brass Queens making a stop through Madison on October 11th at the High Noon Saloon. They will be sharing the stage with Madison’s own, Mama Digdown’s Brass Band and the story of the bands relationship is touched on (and you can hear the excitement in Ally’s voice) as soon as we start talking about this event. We get into what this show will feel and sound like, but it is this relationship between the two bands that is going to set this particular night ablaze. We dive brass first into the soon to be released album, ‘Hot Tub Sessions Vol. I’ and even dissect one of Ally’s tracks. It is unfortunate but, being an incredible all female band, is still a thing of surprise for some people, so we definitely touch on that experience and how that drives this group. We find time to have Ally build a quick setlist – not a lot of surprises, but you can tell where the party would be at if she was in charge of the music. Don’t miss out on this band.