Rebirth Brass Band – 2019 VFMF

Whether seen on HBO’s Treme or at their legendary Tuesday night gig at the Maple Leaf Bar, Rebirth Brass Band are a true New Orleans institution.

Formed in 1983, Rebirth Brass Band have evolved from playing the streets of the French Quarter to playing festivals and stages all over the world. While committed to upholding the tradition of brass bands, they have also extended themselves into the realms of funk and hip hop to create their signature sound. “Rebirth can be precise whenever it wants to,” says The New York Times, “but it’s more like a party than a machine. It’s a working model of the New Orleans musical ethos: as long as everybody knows what they’re doing, anyone can cut loose.” In the wake of the sometimes-stringent competition among New Orleans brass bands, Rebirth are the undisputed leaders of the pack, and they show no signs of slowing down.

Following their Grammy Award-winning album, Rebirth of New Orleans, the band are at it again with Move Your Body, an infectious, groove-laden collection of hip-shakers sure to saturate the dance floor. Boasting a mastery of Rebirth’s signature “heavy funk” sound, Move Your Body pushes and swings, leaving behind an 11-track thumbprint of a sultry Tuesday night spent dancing on their home court at the Maple Leaf Bar in New Orleans.

“I saw the Rebirth Brass Band playing at the Maple Leaf Bar on Oak Street, and it changed my life. It was one of these transcendent musical experiences.” – Ani DiFranco