Band
Trumpets/flugels – Chris Dowding (Natural Causes, Rude 2.0)
Charlotte Keeffe (Space Painters, Keeffe/Macari Duo)
French horn – Jim Rattigan (Pavillion, Haden/Bley Liberation Music Orchestra)
Trombones- Annie Whitehead (Rude 2.0, Penguin Café Orchestra)
Dave Amis (Cyan Traces, Keith Tippett’s Centipede)
Saxes/clarinets – Paul Jolly (The People Band, Loverly)
Tuba/trumpet/flugel/leader – Ben Higham (Monk Inc., Arthur, Loverly)
Drums – Olly Blackman (Hackney Colliery Band, Quadracerotops)
The Brass Monkeys are an eclectic improvising brass band influenced by jazz, blues, reggae, country, free improvisation, soul, folk …… Performing an exciting mix of original material and unusual classics. The band offer a reverent but iconoclastic take on the history of musical improvisation. With a line up of two trumpets, French horn, two trombones, tenor sax, tuba and drums this group is a powerhouse of brass that reflects an exciting mix of youth and experience. We enjoy exploring the textural possibilities of this sound and performances mix solo, duo, trio and ensemble improvisations inspired by our diverse repertoire.
Over the years, ensemble members have worked with (to name a few) Joan Armatrading, Lianne Carroll, Elvis Costello, Julia Doyle, Joe Gallivan, Joe Jackson, Chris MacGregor’s Brotherhood of Breath, Louis Moholo Moholo, Laura Mvula, Maggie Nicols, Natural Causes, Courtney Pine, Dudu Pukwana, The People Band, Chis Rea, John Russell, Paul Rutherford, John Stevens, The Style Council, Keith Tippett, Jah Wobble, Robert Wyatt….
Website – www.thebrassmonkeys.eu
Twitter – @8BrassMonkeys
Press – ‘A fun evening with @8BrassMonkeys …, moving from unruly polyphony to heartfelt chorale via Nichols, Monk, Lil Hardin, Lester Bowie, Shepp and more.’ John Sharpe @JazzSnipe