The Mystery of Brass Monkey

RASS MONKEY BRASS BAND

Relentless drums, rumbling tuba, and wailing horns...nothing kicks the party into high gear like a smokin' brass band! Now you don't have to trek to New Orleans to catch second-line fever - the Bay Area's own BRASS MONKEY BRASS BAND brings the infectious energy and funky good time of Mardi Gras to the West Coast and beyond.

Brass Monkey is a powerhouse of second-line brass energy in the style of New Orleans' own Dirty Dozen, Rebirth and other brass bands, with a traditional lineup of tuba, saxes, trumpets, trombones, bass drum and snare. As an all-acoustic band, they can play anytime, anywhere - indoors, outdoors, or even in the street (no power needed!) Brass Monkey's wide repertoire ranges from New Orleans second-line classics like "When The Saints Go Marching In" to danceable favorites by a variety of artists from Led Zeppelin to Stevie Wonder, plus their own irrepressibly funky originals.

Brass Monkey was formed to play a Fat Tuesday party in 1999 by Bay Area tuba man Jon Birdsong (Beck, Victoria Williams) and drummer Kevin Stevens. The band was an instant hit - thrilling Bay Area listeners who demanded more shows and word began to spread about the fact that Brass Monkey's high-octane, highly danceable shows were not to be missed. This all-star 9-piece unit's members have backgrounds as varied as Brass Monkey's music. BMBB's members have performed with the likes of Barnum and Bailey Circus, Santana, KC and the Sunshine Band, Pharoah Sanders, The Glenn Miller Orchestra, Cannonball, Marcus Shelby Orchestra, Polkacide, Casino Royale and The New Morty Show.

Brass Monkey's music is perfect for every audience - from age eight to ninety-eight, whether working in the mail room or the boardroom, everyone loves this band. Recent highlights include appearing as a "special mystery guest" with Bobby McFerrin on the Fall '02 SFJAZZ Festival as well as Summer/Fall '02 festival appearances at the 1st Annual KRSH/Luther Burbank Center Rhythm and Roots Festival/Santa Rosa, CA, Blues by the Bay Festival/Eureka, CA and the Falkirk Cultural Center Festival/San Rafael, CA. Brass Monkey has received rave reviews appearing in concert as special guest with artists such as Dr. John, John Fogerty, Marcia Ball in addition to serving up their uniquely danceable musical gumbo in well-known Bay Area venues such as Bimbo's 365 Club, The Fillmore, Great American Music Hall, Elbo Room and the Mystic Theatre. BMBB's musical chops earned them the coveted slot at Pac Bell Park playing Opening Day for the San Francisco Giants.

Music from BMBB's debut CD, Live in Time and Space, was featured in a Summer '02 country wide campaign for Coca-Cola in Italy during the World Cup. This CD continues to receive national airplay on a wide variety of AAA, NPR-affiliated, college, listener supported and community stations