The New Orleans music scene this week

21st March 2016   ·   0 Comments

By Geraldine Wyckoff
Contributing Writer

The Soul Brass Band

The Soul Brass Band, led by drummer/vocalist Derrick Freeman, has been creating quite a clamor on several levels. Its Sunday evening gig at d.b.a. (3 p.m. to 6 p.m.) has become a hot spot for the all-star group’s music and the all-you-can-eat crawfish for the reasonable cover charge of $10. The other element that has folks’ tongues wagging is the band’s name. Why would anyone chose that moniker when it’s so similar to New Orleans’ well-established, now world-renowned, brassy Soul Rebels.

Freeman, who’s worn various stylistic hats during his years on the New Orleans music scene, explains that picking the name Soul Brass Band wasn’t by design. He explains that he became friends with Lalla Robertson who is involved in the film and television industry. One day, she called him and said that noted rap, neo-soul and contemporary rhythm and blues artist CeeLo Green wanted to shoot a video in New Orleans to go with his song, “Music to My Soul.” A jazz funeral was to be incorporated and Freeman was asked at first to be a consultant and then was expected to lead a brass band. “I don’t have no brass band and I don’t have no name,” Freeman remembers uttering or at least thinking. A saying that he often relies on, “success is where opportunity meets preparation,” came in handy and the next thing you know, Freeman is in it all the way.

He was sent the song and noticed that the word soul was a central theme throughout. So, just for this project, he thought it would be appropriate to perform in the video as the Soul Brass Band. Dressed in traditional black and white uniforms provided by the producers, the members, hand-chosen by Freeman, wore caps with “SOUL” prominently displayed on their caps and the name emblazoned on the bass drum head.

Freeman was offered to keep all the brass band paraphernalia and he thought it might come in handy for some future television spots or the like. “I really wasn’t in the brass band mode,” he offers.

Soon, he got another call from Robertson saying that Nike intended to shoot a commercial in New Orleans that featured the Pelicans’ basketball power forward, superstar Anthony Davis walking down a French Quarter Street. They wanted a brass band, and the Soul Brass Band was it.

Postings on the Internet led to Freeman’s inbox filling up with requests to hire the band. His first instinct was to say, “I don’t have a brass band,” but instead, he said, “Well, yes…”

“It just spiraled – I never had a desire to start a brass band,” says Freeman who is best known leading his band, Smokers World, and formerly behind the drums with trumpeter Kermit Ruffins and the group Cronk.

Naturally, Freeman felt it important to discuss the situation with the Soul Rebels. “Once I explained it to them, they understood,” says Freeman expressing great respect for the Rebels and all of those on the brass band scene who went through – and continue to go through – the struggle to gain respect and recognition.

It’s no wonder that the Soul Brass Band, which played its first official gig last fall opening up for Red Baraat at Tipitina’s, has gained attention considering the talent within its ranks. Each of the musicians, including trumpeter Leon “Kid” Chocolate, trombonist Michael Watson, saxophonist James Martin, tuba player Steve Glenn and guitarist Danny Abel and, of course, Freeman, enjoy name recognition in their own right. Throw in regular guests like trumpeter Kevin Louis and trombonist Terrance Taplin and it’s bound to create a stir.

“The fascination with us,” Freeman says, “is that we’re doing it altogether. That makes it special.”

“It’s Your Last Chance to Dance…”

Sunday, March 27, marks the last show in the Nickel-A-Dance traditional jazz series presented at Frenchmen Street’s Maison club. The mighty Treme Brass Band, led by the always-amiable drummer Benny Jones, closes it out in style beginning at 4 p.m. Considering the close proximity of the Maison (508 Frenchmen St.) to d.b.a (618 Frenchmen St.) going from one club to the other seems like a great way to spend a brassy Easter Sunday evening. There’s no cover charge for Nickel-A-Dance, so it’s economical too.

Too Good to Last…

The Wine Down Jazz Up! series held in the bar area of the French Quarter’s Tableau restaurant has been praised numerous times in this column for its excellent jazz. Master pianist David Torkanowsky was at the helm of the outstanding weekly jazz shows and hand-picked the very best New Orleans musicians. Monday, night, March 28, is, unfortunately, the last performance at the popular and well-attended event. The response to a letter questioning the decision to end the shows said: “… (dinner) guests request to be seated upstairs as they have commented that the music is too loud for them to hold a conversation (in the downstairs dining room adjoining the bar.)”

The finale evening will again include an incredible line-up with Torkanowsky, trumpeter Nicholas Payton, drummer Herlin Riley and bassist Grayson Hackleman. The music begins at 4 p.m. (who dines at 4 p.m. anyway?), there is no cover charge and drinks are discounted until 6 p.m. with jazz until 8 p.m.

This article originally published in the March 21, 2016 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.