Last week’s Jazz on 3 visited The Big Apple, and we follow it up with distinctive flavours of The Big Easy this time, as British octet Brass Mask draw on New Orleans marching-band sounds in an enthralling performance. I was lucky enough to be at the gig, and I can tell you that the audience was fully hyped by the music from the downbeat, as the rows of bobbing heads made abundantly clear.
Bandleader Tom Challenger joins me in the studio to unmask some of the band's influences, chief among them being the fascinating Mardi Gras Indians as well as the man whose use of the tuba has never been anything other than original – the great Henry Threadgill.
Brass Mask, credit Alex Bonney
It’s a gripping performance and the highlights come thick and fast. Listen out for the heavy-rolling spiritual 'I Thank You, Jesus' where the band takes us to church with some fantastic collective improvisations. There are some high octane moments of call and response between the trumpets of Alex Bonney and Rory Simmons and Nathaniel Cross on trombone. Playing one of the best-known pieces from the Mardi Gras Indians repertoire, the band dive into the jubilant and celebratory 'Indian Red'. It’s a showcase for Dan Nicholls on bass clarinet, which is by no means commonplace in a 'brass band'. The band reveals a harder edge on 'Don't Stand Up' with some brilliant punchy bass lines from tuba player Theon Cross who locks in potently with Dave Hamblett on drums, while George Crowley takes a great solo too.
Also in the show, we'll be previewing another set from that same night at the Vortex, with a track from BBC New Generation Artist Trish Clowes and her quartet – ahead of the full broadcast on Jazz Line-Up next Saturday 12th.
Plus we keep the flavour of New Orleans as I catch up with Philip Frazier, leader of the legendary Rebirth Brass Band. As if that wasn’t a rich enough gumbo, we also have tasty new sounds from the Johnny Hunter Quartet, courtesy of the BBC Introducing Uploader.
Join me from 11pm on Monday 07 October or listen online for seven days after broadcast.
Kevin Le Gendre
If you have comments about the show, or requests for music you’d like to hear, do get in touch at jazzon3@bbc.co.uk or on Twitter @BBCJazzon3.
