Biography
Founded by a bunch of
trombone players that were fed up with sitting in the back
of orchestras and jazz bands, the Po’Boys Brass Band is a
7-piece power house of brass, funk and ROCK. The
four-trombone front line produces a sonic explosion of sound
that breaks all preconceived notions of what the trombone is
capable of. Supporting the trombone powerhouse is a
chops-to-spare backline of guitar, drums, and
sousaphone…that’s right, a funky old sousaphone. The band
plays original charts as well as some tasty covers,
conjuring up anything from Stevie Wonder and Tower of Power
to Led Zeppelin and Edgar Winter. The band’s close ties to
the great city of New Orleans guides the group spiritually,
owing a lot of their sound concepts to the Rebirth Brass
Band, Bonerama, the Dirty Dozen, Professor Longhair, The
Meters, Dr. John, and many more. The band’s current lineup
of musicians consists of an all-star cast of characters that
are all either alumni or current students at the Eastman
School of Music, including a radio announcer, country
singer, doctoral candidate, and even a dean.
Their different backgrounds are
what make the Po’Boys such a unique listening experience.
Rochester’s City Magazine said: “It’s like Dumbo on an acid
trip. If Hendrix had played the trombone, it might’ve
sounded like this.” Whether tearing into some vintage
N’Awlins funk or shredding through an original rock-anthem,
the ‘Boys never leave anyone disappointed, making one critic
quip “…the Boys' meaty four-trombone wall of sound and
freight-train groove melted my cynicism away.”
The PBBB has enjoyed good
times and success in its short history, winning the Upstate
NY Songwriting Contest in summer 2008 which eventually led
to a record deal and the release of their debut album, Bone
Break. The ‘boys also “…have quickly made a name for
themselves as a versatile performing act”, opening for Big
Bad Voodoo Daddy at Rochester’s Party in the Park concert
series in spring 08, as well as being invited to play at
virtually every major festival in Rochester, NY.
On a beautiful Friday night
in June 2009, the PBBB took the stage at the 2009 Xerox
Rochester International Jazz Festival. Friday night drew the
largest outdoor crowd in the festival’s history, and between
all the stages, the crowd attendance was over 45,000 people.
Despite being up against some heavy competition (Tower of
Power was playing behind them and Taj Mahal in front), the
PBBB managed to pull a huge crowd. Thousands of fans of the
funk crammed into the tiny street block to hear the PBBB’s
own rendition of New Orleans funk, original rock, and
traditional street band tunes, creating a literal traffic
jam at the center of the festival.
The PBBB is currently touring the northeast, expanding its
following and spreading the word: New York finally has its
own Brass-Funk-Rock band.
For the Official Po'Boys Press
Kit, please visit -
SonicBids
READ ABOUT THE BAND
MEMBERS
WATCH PO'BOYS LIVE ON 13WHAM ROCHESTER HERE
Trombone? In the back of the
band?
Not anymore.
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