Krewe du Vieux begs for change and brings on the Brass

26th January 2015   ·   0 Comments

By Geraldine Wyckoff
Contributing Writer

Did you ever stand on a corner enjoying a Mardi Gras parade and it seemed that every marching band ended or began a tune one block away? For music lovers, that’s like not catching a single strand of beads. “Play me something, mister!”

That’s one thing you don’t have to worry about during the Krewe du Vieux parade that rolls at 6 p.m. on Saturday, January 31, 2015. That’s because each of its 17 outrageously satirical and/or sexy sub-krewes, which celebrate the theme “The Krewe du Vieux Begs for Change,” boasts its own band with favorites like the Tremé, Paulin Brothers and TBC brass bands as well as some new up-and-comers too. With a wide variety of brass bands, the procession, which begins at Franklin Avenue and Royal Street and heads upriver through the French Quarter, offers an opportunity to check out the different styles and get acquainted with some “new kids on the block.” It ends at the Civic Theatre for a party with Kirk Joseph’s Backyard Groove.

Established in January of 2013, the New Breed Brass Band is making its debut appearance as a unit at the Krewe du Vieux parade though some of its members have stepped out with other groups for the event.

“It’s really a different parade,” understates New Breed tuba player Desmond Provost who, for this occasion acts as the group’s spokesman. “It’s like a free spirit parade — very open-minded. It’s cool. I wouldn’t bring my little sister to the parade,” he adds. Provost first played the event in 2006 with reedman Darryl Adams and has since blown the big horn with the Baby Boyz Brass Band.

“They have so many different types of bands that it’s like one big reunion,” he says of his experience. “Everybody comes out and has a good time and meets up and just have a party.”

Though the New Breed could be considered as having branched out from the Baby Boyz group, Provost, 23, explains that its members have known each other for many years through the music. “Basically, everybody in our band grew up in the music or has someone in their family who has been dealing with music or do music,” he offers.

Many of them met through their participation in this city’s jazz camps like the Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong Summer Jazz Camp and the Don “Moose” Jamison New Orleans Heritage School of Music. They have furthered their musical and academic educations at prestigious institutions such the New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts (NOCCA), St. Augustine and Lusher high schools and universities including Southern at Baton Rouge, Xavier, Tulane and the University of New Orleans.

Some also come from musical families. Provost is the nephew of banjoist/guitarist/vocalist master Carl LeBlanc. New Breed’s snare man, Jenard Andrews is the son of trumpeter/vocalist James Andrews and the nephew of Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews. One of the group’s trumpeters, Aurelien Barnes, is the son of accordionist/vocalist Bruce “Sunpie” Barnes.

“All of us are really musically inclined,” says Provost who began playing tuba when he was in the fourth grade at (then) McDonough 15 grammar school in the French Quarter. “Jerry McGowan, that’s who started me off playing tuba and I never put it down. It kinda stuck to me. If it wasn’t for him, there wouldn’t be any tuba for me.”

With so many new brass bands popping up on the scene, many people enjoying their playing out on Jackson Square or during a second line probably don’t realize the strength of the young musicians’ backgrounds or their dedication to the music.

“We’re all working together to make this work,” says Provost of both the New Breed’s intent and also its decision not to name a leader.

The New Breed has gotten a leg up through the Andrews family connection. Travis “Trumpet Black” Hill, who is the cousin of James Andrews, stepped in to help out when the New Breed first formed. The foundation of the band that included Provost, Jenard Andrews, trombonist Caleb Windsay, saxophonist Douane Waples and bass drummer Adolph Sorino was without a trumpeter.

“He became our trumpet player because we couldn’t find anyone at the moment to fit in with us,” Provost explains. “He gave us a big hand and he kind of showed us some pointers. He helped out a lot.”

Black, who still makes guest appearances with the New Breed but is busy doing his own thing as the leader of Trumpet Black and the Heart Attacks, was also responsible for taking the group to Europe for the first time to perform in Switzerland.

“That was a beautiful scene,” Provost exclaims. “You know what was really different is that we had to adjust to the culture, the food and their way of living. It didn’t take us no time for us to do that. Everybody there was very nice, calm, peaceful and kind. So it was an experience for us.”

The Andrews family link un­doubtedly also led to the New Breed’s first club gig opening for Troy “Trombone Shorty” And­rews at the House of Blues. The band recently traveled to San Francisco to open for Shorty at the impressive Masonic Audito­rium and he is producing its debut album estimated to drop in late summer.

Meanwhile, the New Breed still enjoys being out on Jackson Square, Frenchmen Street or numerous spots in the French Quarter. “I look at playing on the street as practice and having a good time and a way of entertaining people that you don’t even know. It’s the feeling that you’re sending. It’s a good vibe – it’s an energy thing.

The group, that also includes trombonist Mark Francis and trumpeter John Perkins has also blown at some of the Sunday afternoon social aid and pleasure club parades. The band played its first one just last January for the Ladies of Unity parade and were called back this year for the club’s procession on Sunday, January 25.

“That’s a wild party,” Provost says of the second lines. “It’s like a big celebration of everything. It’s like letting everything go. No matter what you’ve been through that whole week, when you get to that Sunday, it just leaves your mind. It’s like a pain killer.”

“We’re taking the old New Orleans jazz and turning it into the new New Orleans jazz. The New Breed takes it to a new breed.”

For further information on the parade and after party at the Civic go to www.kreweduvieux.org.

This article originally published in the January 26, 2015 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.