The Hot 8 Brass Band

The Hot 8 Brass Band

The Hot 8 Brass Band is a New Orleans brass band group active since 1995. It blends hip hop, jazz and funk with traditional New Orleans brass band music.

History

The band forms in New Orleans in 1995, created by tubist Bennie “Big Peter” Pete through the merger of two earlier groups, the Looney Tunes Brass Band and the High Steppers Brass Band. Its membership includes Bennie Pete, Keith Anderson, Phillip Armand, Terrell Batiste, Larry Brown, Tyrus Chapman, Harry “Swamp Thang” Cook, Sammy Cyrus, Dwayne Finnie, John Gilbert, Alvarez Huntley, Edward Jackson III, Jerome “Baybay” Jones, Dinerral Shavers, Gregory Veals, Joseph “Shotgun Joe” Williams, Raymond “Dr. Rackle” Williams and Derrick Tabb.

Public profile

The band reaches wider prominence after appearing in Spike Lee’s 2006 documentary When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts, following Hurricane Katrina. National Public Radio describes the reaction to that appearance as bringing new listeners to the group’s mix of traditional marching music, hip hop and R&B.

Notable coverage

The band also draws media attention because three of its members die through handgun violence.