Grammy-winning New Orleans brass ensemble Rebirth Brass Band treated Brooklyn to a taste of the Big Easy with a sold-out Mardi Gras party hosted by Nolafunk/CEG Presents at New York’s Brooklyn Bowl on Friday.
“Unbelievable,” “hard as hell,” “free as a ray of light,” “stunning”—these are some of the words used by Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea to describe Rebirth Brass Band. Founded by brothers Phil and Keith Frazier over 35 years ago, Rebirth has gone from busking on sidewalks in the French Quarter and booking gigs at second line parades to traveling the world as musical ambassadors of New Orleans, while still maintaining a weekly residency back home. With explosive horns and powerful percussion, the band provides the truest representation of modern second line music available outside the city of New Orleans, or in it for that matter. The group’s bombastic live shows are truly something to behold, and what better time to celebrate the music of New Orleans than Mardi Gras?
Friday’s show kicked off with an opening set from Quarter Water, a five-piece NYC-based band that combines hip-hop, jazz, and R&B, followed by a bacchanalian bash of blaring brass from the ever-impressive Rebirth.
Check out a gallery of photos from Rebirth Brass Band at Brooklyn Bowl courtesy of photographer Maggie Miles below.
Rebirth Brass Band returns to The Rabbit Hole for its weekly Tuesday residency tonight, February 28th. The band has upcoming tour dates in the South, Texas, the West Coast, and Colorado. For a full list of shows and to purchase tickets, visit the band’s website.