Empire Strikes Brass features approximately 10 musicians — that number can change depending on the date and venue — and theirs is a tasty mix of funk, New Orleans-style second line jazz, soul and rock. After five-plus years as a strictly live act, the Asheville, North Carolina-based ensemble entered the studios in fall 2016 to record a pair of albums. The first of those, Theme for a Celebration was released in February; a collaborative album with DJ Push/Pull is due out soon.
Theme for a Celebration is a brass band showcase, but Empire Strikes Brass' instrumental lineup allows the group to make successful forays into Southern rock and even hip-hop. On Theme for a Celebration, guest artists Philo Reitzel and Austin Haynes lend their rapping talents to “The Knocker.”
With such a large and seasoned musician lineup – most band members are involved in multiple other musical endeavors – Empire Strikes Brass has a deep well of creativity from which to draw. And the band's long time together before entering the studio afforded plenty of time for ideas to develop and coalesce. “Working with each other and playing other people's music, we found the communication tools to lay a road map out for what we're saying musically through words,” explains saxophonist Pauly Juhl.
Even though Theme for a Celebration showcases the band's assets in a studio context, Empire Strikes Brass is – and will likely remain – primarily an act to be experienced live. As vocalist and saxophonist Debrissa McKinney explains, “At festivals, it's not uncommon for the collective to lead listeners on a late-night parade. They get to feel up-close with the musicians. And for us, it's one more way to feel connected with the people who we're playing for.”
The band's April 21 date at Franklin Manor provides an opportunity to see and hear Empire Strikes Brass in a setting different from the festival and event shows typically found on the group's tour itinerary. The band relishes the opportunity to play such intimate shows. And though they're usually amplified like a typical rock band, ESB can “go acoustic” at a moment's notice. Doing so can make things easier for a 10-piece band playing a smaller venue. “Stage height is important with the Sousaphone,” laughs Juhl. “Because J.P. Furnas is already 6'3” or something, and the Sousaphone adds another foot and a half to him! So that can be a little challenging.”
More information on the show is available via local.cltampa.com, and a video can be seen below.
This article appears in Apr 20-27, 2017.