Soul Brass Band Levels

Soul Brass Band
Levels
Self-Produced

According to a story in Offbeat Magazine, the origins of the Soul Brass Band go back to when CeeLo Green was shooting a video in New Orleans for his song "Music To My Soul." Drummer Derrick Freeman of Kermit Ruffins' Barbecue Swingers was asked to be a consultant and then asked to form a Brass Band. Given the word soul was central to the video's theme, Freeman used the name Soul Brass Band for the project and the producers provided traditional Brass Band uniforms for those in the shoot that Freeman kept.

After shooting a video with New Orleans Pelicans star Anthony Davis, Freeman was receiving requests for the Soul Brass Band. He formed an All Star ensemble snare drummer "Freeman, bass drummer Aron Lambert, trumpeter Leon “Kid Chocolate” Brown, trombonists Michael Watson and Terrance Taplin, saxophonist James Martin, guitarist Danny Abel and tuba player Steve Glenn." After checking with the Soul Rebels, they started performing with the first performance was opening for Red Baraat at Tipitina's and subsequently toured and played Festivals in Europe and more.

The music ranges from traditional Brass Band numbers to funky soul and pop covers over a wide variety of material. The recording opens with what sounds like static radio music before it segues into Soul Brass at full force on the driving swing of "Open Your Eyes," with its hints of Latin along Ivan Neville's vocal. Michael Watson takes a terrific trombone solo followed by Khris Royal's searing alto sax, the horn arrangement supporting the vocal is wonderful and the groove is irresistible. The title track has a groove that hints at "Funky Nassau," as Freeman shouts out the vocal of life being about levels as the horns help punctuate the vocal. Ricio Fruge takes a scorching trumpet solo before Martin's earthy tenor sax, with the percussion percolating while Doyle Cooper's sousaphone providing the anchor. There is more of a Caribbean groove on "How Far We Come," with Sean C adding his soulful vocal to Freeman's gravelly one. Corey Henry adds his muscular trombone to the funk. Sean C. also is present on "Circles" which also features Freeman's funk band Smoker's World, a the mix of rap and soulful singing.

There is plenty of soul on the spirited revival of "Ease On Down The Road" from The Wiz with an outstanding vocal by Erica Falls, and noteworthy solos from Mark Levron on trumpet and Danny Abel on guitar. The closing number goes back to a more traditional jazz vein with a rendition of Leroy Jones' "Rendezvous," with Kevin Louis high note trumpet featured before Terence Taplin's rambunctious trombone solo. While there is only a little over a half hour of music, the Soul Brass Band has plenty of spirit along and funk to go with its Brass Band foundation to produce a recording that should have folks at least tapping their fingers. If you can sit still through this album, you need to have your pulse checked.

I received a review download from a publicist. Here is a video of Soul Brass Band during a recent instore performance at New Orleans' Louisiana Music Factory.