Sat 3/1 @ 9PM
For the past decade, Cleveland has had a funky horn- and percussion-heavy band staffed with some of the area’s best jazz and pop musicians that’s been at the top of every organization’s list for parties, festivals, and special events.
Back in the mid-2000s, it was the hip-hop fusion band Afrodesiatics. In the late 2000s, it was the Afrobeat-based, electronics-infused Mifune.
Now it’s the Revolution Brass Band, who overlay a thick, aromatic gumbo of funk, soul, rock and jazz with a driving New Orleans second-line sound.
If you’re out and about in the summer, you’re sure to run into them — whether at something like the kickoff of the art project Pull last summer, where volunteers started a crosstown truck pull in front of the Beachland Ballroom to their motivating, spirited music, or the Burning River Festival down at the old Coast Guard Station, or at the annual Gordon Square Arts Festival in June. You’ll see them this coming summer at Parade the Circle as well as other events they’re still firming up. People are drawn to their sound from down the street, and it’s hard to stand still when they’re playing.
Revolution Brass Band was founded in 2010 by trumpeters Jacob Wynne and the late John Kuegeler, who passed away in June 2012. Since then, the eight-piece ensemble, which features six brass players and two percussionists, has done some live recordings, which showcase them in the setting where they really shine.
But they are also skilled composers and players. And now they’re putting out their debut studio album so listeners can savor those aspects of their talents. They’ll celebrate with a release party at Mahall’s. Cleveland indie-style hip-hop group Muamin Collection, which performs as a live band, opens.
The disc features eight original tunes — six by Wynne and two by trombone player Kris “SkinnyK” Morron (who incidentally was in all of the groups mentioned above).
“Some are older, some are a little bit newer,” says Wynne. “We tried to have a good mix of different types of songs and feels on there. There’s a little bit of Afrobeat, a little bit of more of a New Orleans feel, and some songs are more kind of funky.”
It’s variety they’ve long demonstrated in their distinctive re-arrangements of tunes as different as Prince’s “When Doves Fly,” and the late Afrobeat superstar Fela Kuti’s “No Agreement” that they mix into their sets with their own tunes. They’re hoping that putting out a disc that showcases their own material will be their launch pad to the next level.
“We’re looking to expand more, mostly regionally,” says Wynne, “although at some point we would love to do a really big tour. We hope this recording helps us spread out farther into the area, lets people know what we’re doing, and gives them a feel for our original music.”
While Revolution Brass Band’s infectious music makes them the quintessential party band, the members — who also include tenor sax player Dan Wenninger, alto sax player Steve Zombory, baritone sax/flute player David Kasper, sousaphonist Cutty, and percussionist/drummers Tim Lane and Matt Hadaway — have some serious chops.
“Seven out of eight members are fulltime musicians one way or another,” says Wynne. “We all work in all types of different bands all over town. The majority of us teach privately or at schools and universities. We’re called for a lot of session work. If they need a horn section, they’ll call us all in. Between everybody, we’re involved in a lot of things.”
Admission to the CD release party is $10, which includes a copy of the album. Throw in another $15 and you get a poster as well.
The band will also be on The Sound of Applause on WCPN 91.1 FM Thu 2/27 @2pm.
facebook.com/revolutionbrassband
