Soul Brass Band + Michael Watson Presents: The Alchemy + James Martin Band

Soul Brass Band is exactly what it needs to be: a great New Orleans Brass Band steeped in tradiGon that also plays the perfect party. Day aJer day in New Orleans, this all-star lineup is called upon for its top-flight tradiGonal Brass Band repertoire and Second line Parades; and then night aJer night, they’re called upon again for frontman Derrick Freeman’s signature brass band infusion of classic Soul. In Summer 2016 the band rocked the stage and the street at Ascona Jazz FesGval in Switzerland and Fringe Jazz Fest in Denmark, and they’re coming back to Europe for a full tour in Summer 2017.


All the while eschewing the restrictions of traditional musical genres, Michael Watson Presents: The Alchemy is a musical presentation of the work of a man who simultaneously embodies soul, R&B, and jazz, and elaborates far beyond these traditional genres. Mr Watson draws from years of experience in so many different kinds of bands - from large jazz orchestras, to Bill Summers, to the US Marines - that his work today can hardly be pinned to any one particular tradition. Influences include Gregory Porter, Donny Hathaway, Robert Glasper, Yellowjackets, Kenny Garrett, and more. Indeed, the accidental genius of this band, is that the diversity of influences in the band’s musical background (and especially Mr Watson's) creates a “come one, come all” type of atmosphere for audiences that have spanned New Orleans to Europe. This soul-driven collective imprints a true movement of New Orleans music that transcends genre.


Saxophonist James Martin’s distinctive sound is a staple in the New Orleans music scene because it’s a rock powerhouse with serious jazz and blues underpinnings. James encapsulates the funky and syncopated pulse of New Orleans music, and adds the bravado and urgency of mainstream Americana to an already energetic repertoire. His most recent album "Something's Gotta Give" demonstrates both a commitment to the great icons of New Orleans as well as a strong songwriting ability. Drawing from icons like Fats Domino, Dr John, Sonny Rollins, Frank Sinatra, The Meters, and many more, The James Martin Band is a modern approach to New Orleans music and rock like you’ve never heard.