Hot Tomale - New Orleans hot brass

The brass band tradition dates back to the Napoleonic days of Louisiana. An abundance of brass instruments in New Orleans during the years of the French occupation allowed slaves to bury their dead with musical accompaniment. This was the root of marching band music. After the Emancipation, many secret societies and "social and pleasure clubs" retained their own brass band to play at parties and functions. New Orleans is a place where music accompanied every moment of life, from cradle to grave, and the brass band musically underscored most of these moments.

In the early nineties, Mickey Bones made a two year pilgrimage to New Orleans in search of new musical ideas. His quest led him through large parades, small block parties, neighborhood bars and even funerals. It was here that he discovered the beauty in the way traditional music celebrates life and happiness. New Orleans-style brass band music has been played for almost two centuries, most recently by such bands as the Rebirth Brass Band, the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, the Treme brass band, and now the Hot Tamale Brass Band!

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Cambridge March
Down by the Riverside
I'm Walkin