Rebirth Brass Band

The Rebirth Brass Band is a New Orleans brass band. The group was founded in 1982 by tuba player Philip Frazier, his brother Keith Frazier and trumpeter Kermit Ruffins, along with other musicians with them at the Alfred Lawless High School in the Tremé neighborhood of New Orleans. The band was discovered at the 1982 Jazz festival and later recorded its first album in 1984.Rebirth is known for combining traditional New Orleans brass band music, including the New Orleans tradition of second line with funk, jazz, and soul influences. In 1992, Ruffins and Rebirth split amicably after Ruffins decided not to accompany the band on a trip to Africa.

Ruffins later formed his own Band, the Barbecue Swingers, who play a more traditional style of New Orleans jazz music. Rebirth's longstanding regular Tuesday night gig at the Maple Leaf Bar on Oak Street in the Carrollton neighborhood of Uptown New Orleans is one of the pillars of the New Orleans music scene, and has served as a reliable introduction to the city's nightlife for many newly arrived college students.

The band regularly tours in North America and Europe, second only to the Dirty Dozen Brass Band in popularity and acclaim among the brass bands of New Orleans.

Discography

*1984 - "Here to Stay!" - Arhoolie Records
*1989 - "Feel Like Funkin' It Up" - Rounder Records
*1991 - "Do Watcha Wanna"
*1991 - "Rebirth Kickin' It Live"
*1992 - "Take It To The Street"
*1994 - "Rollin'"
*1997 - "We Come To Party"
*1999 - ""
*2001 - "Hot Venom"
*2004 - "Rebirth for Life"
*2004 - "Ultimate Rebirth Brass Band" (best-of compilation)
*2005 - "Throwback"
*2007 - ""
*2008 - "25! 25th Anniversary Album, photo-ed in the lower 9; we love our boys. thank you for every single note you have ever played.

External links

* [http://www.southernspaces.org/con_time.html#rebirth "Let Me Do My Thang: Rebirth Brass Band"] - a documentary filmed and edited by Keith Reynaud, Jr.
* [http://rebirthbrassband.wetpaint.com/ Rebirth Brass Band website]
* [http://www.wlatalent.com/roster/rebirth_brass_band/artistprofile.htm Rebirth Brass Band] at [http://www.wlatalent.com Wenig-LaMonica Associates]
* [http://www.myspace.com/rebirthbrassband Rebirth Brass Band on Myspace]
* [http://www.archive.org/details/RebirthBrassBand Rebirth Brass Band collection] on the Internet Archive's live music archive
* [http://www.pastemagazine.com/action/article/7499/feature/music/still_bustin_loose_rebirth_brass_band_turns_25] Rebirth Turns 25, Paste Magazine article by Caroline Goyette