New Breed Brass Band lives and breathes the culture of New Orleans, infusing funk, rock, jazz, and hip-hop into a custom-made enhancement of the city’s second-line brass band tradition.
“That’s what we came up under,” says bandleader and snare-drummer Jenard Andrews of second-line bands like the ReBirth, Dirty Dozen and Lil’ Rascals Brass Bands. “Now we’re trying to take that sound and bring in some new elements and expand it. We bring outside influences like Earth Wind & Fire and Brass Construction, trying to interpret a different song for every genre, and make it all our own sound.”
New Breed Brass Band made its street debut in November 2013 at the Nine Times Second Line. Since then, they have showcased their originality opening in North America and Europe as well as opening for such diverse bands as The Fray, Red Baraat, Blackalicious, Dr. John, The Waterboys, and Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue.
Most of the members have been playing music since they were toddlers and count such New Orleans legends as James “12” Andrews, Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews, Glen David Andrews and the late Travis “Trumpet Black” Hill as family members. Honing their childhood experiences playing music with family, and on through high school marching bands and concert ensembles, the members of New Breed are united to one cause: rocking each show and entertaining audiences to the maximum degree possible.
Whether performing in their hometown or on the road, New Breed brings the singular vibe of the New Orleans second-line with them. “We can’t wait,” Andrews says of bringing the New Breed sound to stages and festivals around the world. “It’s a new breed of music that we’ll be bringing to our culture, and we hope to create a new sound for our city in the process.”