The Dirty Dozen Brass Band performs this evening as part of the Wednesday at the Square concert series put on by the Young Leadership Council. Breton Sound is the opening act at 5 PM.
The Dirty Dozen have been innovators on the New Orleans brass band scene since the 1970s. Each album takes the band in a new direction including legendary collaborations like jazz stars Dizzy Gillespie and Danny Barker and pop sensations like Elvis Costello and Widespread Panic.
Their latest effort, Twenty Dozen, was highlighted in a recent New York Times “new releases” column. Seven of the eleven tunes are compelling original songs like the opener, “Tomorrow,” which has a energetic, modern feel complete with a call and response style chant. The compositions are split between the members of the group including a great rave up, “We Gon’ Roll” by the drummer Terence Higgins. It also features a chant-like vocal part, “We gon’ roll, we gon’ roll, down in New Orleans…” before guitarist Jake Eckert unleashes a wicked solo.
Despite the rock ‘n’ roll trappings of many of the songs, the band also shows off its traditional chops with a medley of three of the most well-known songs from the canon—“Paul Barbarin’s Second Line,” “E-Flat Blues,” and the chestnut of all chestnuts, “When the Saints Go Marching In.” All three cuts are distinguished with spirited ensemble work, great solos and strong vocals. Yet, as other writers have noted, the inclusion of the traditional material seems incongruous within the totality of the album.
Yet, this decision really can’t be faulted in this day and age. Artists rarely release albums that are meant to be listened to as one piece, in one sitting. Listeners pick and choose cuts and often buy individual songs to download rather than purchase the full release. So the inclusion of the three songs represents a conscious choice to go with the flow of how the music business functions for consumers today.
