Hot 8 Brass Band

Infobox musical artist
Name = Hot 8 Brass Band

---

Img_capt = Hot 8 playing funeral for New Orleans blogger Ashley Morris, April 2008
Img_size =
Landscape =
Background = group_or_band
Alias =
Origin = New Orleans, Louisiana
Genre = Jazz, Hip hop, Funk
Years_active = 1995–Present
Label = Tru Thoughts
Associated_acts =
URL = [http://www.hot8brassband.com/ www.hot8brassband.com]
Current_members =
Past_members =
Notable_instruments =

The Hot 8 Brass Band is a New Orleans based brass band that blends hip-hop, jazz and funk styles with traditional New Orleans brass sounds. It was formed in 1995 by Bennie Pete, Jerome Jones, and Harry Cook in 1995 [http://www.tipitinas.com/content/pastshow.asp?id=200804110 Brass Band Blowout Weekend: April 11, 2008] from the Tipitina's website] , the merging of two earlier bands, the Looney Tunes Brass Band and the High Steppers Brass Band. [ [http://www.lowellfolkfestival.org/performers/brass/brass.pdf Biography] from the website of the Lowell Folk Festival]

Since June 2007 the band has been signed to the UK's Tru Thoughts label [ [http://www.tru-thoughts.co.uk/news/new-signing-to-tru-thoughts Hot 8 signs to Tru-Thoughts Label] from the label's website] , that label's first U.S. act. [http://www.tru-thoughts.co.uk/artists/hot-8-brass-band Hot 8 Brass Band] from the Tru Thoughts website]

Music

The Hot 8 Brass Band plays in second line parades hosted Sunday afternoons by Social Aid and Pleasure Clubs; in the New Orleans metropolitan area they also play at traditional jazz funerals [http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6735417 Drummer's Funeral Underlines New Orleans Violence] , "All Things Considered", 6 January 2007. NPR.] and at local jazz nightclubs.

They play regularly at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and have played in the Zulu Parade, San Antonio Zulu Association Festival, the City of New Orleans New Year's Celebration and Mo' Fest, the Tom Joyner Morning Show, and the Master P music video "Hootie Hoo". The Hot 8 Brass Band has also toured in Japan, Italy, France, Spain, Finland, England, and Sardinia. [ [http://www.baylinartists.com/hot8.htm Hot 8 Brass Band] from the website of Baylin Artists Management]

In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, the Hot 8 Brass Band was propelled to wider prominence by an appearance in Spike Lee's 2006 documentary "". Because of this appearance, according to National Public Radio, "A new legion of fans caught onto the band's mix of traditional marching music, hip hop, and R&B."

Membership

Four members of the band have died since its formation. Past and present band members include:
* Bennie "Big Peter" Pete (tuba and band leader)
* Terrell "Burger" Batiste (trumpet)
* Harry "Swamp Thang" Cook (bass drum)
* Jerome "Baybay" Jones (trombone)
* Alvarez "B.I.G. AL" Huntley (trumpet)
* Dinerral "Dick" Shavers (snare drum)
* Raymond "Dr. Rackle" Williams (trumpet)
* Keith "Wolf" Anderson (trombone)
* Jereau "Cousin" Fournett (trombone)
* Wendell "Cliff" Stewart (saxophone)
* Demond "Bart" Dorsey (trombone)
* Jacob Johnson (trumpet)
* Joseph "Shotgun Joe" Williams (trombone)

Discography

In October 2007, the band released "Rock with The Hot 8", their first studio album, on the Tru Thoughts label. [ [http://www.tru-thoughts.co.uk/releases/Hot-8-Brass-Band/TRU141 Rock With The Hot 8] , from the Tru Thoughts website] Hot 8 Brass Band was featured on "Down in New Orleans", the 2008 album by the Blind Boys of Alabama.

Violent deaths of group members

The band has also been mentioned in the U.S. media because three of its members, all of whom were between the ages of 17 and 25, have died over the years due to handgun violence.

In 1996, seventeen-year old trumpet player Jacob Johnson was found shot execution-style in his home.

In 2004, trombone player Joseph "Shotgun Joe" Williams was shot dead by police in controversial circumstances. According to a local news source:cite news|url= http://www.bestofneworleans.com/dispatch/2004-08-17/news_feat.html| first=Katy|last=Reckdahl|title=Why?|publisher=Gambit Weekly|date=17 August 2004|accessdate=2007-01-06]

:According to New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) accounts, officers were stopping 22-year-old trombonist Joe Williams for driving an allegedly stolen vehicle when Williams slammed the white Ford F-150 into reverse, accelerating into an NOPD squad car and officer. His actions, says Deputy Superintendent Marlin Defillo, caused officers to fear for their lives and thus open fire, killing Williams.

The same source reported that several eyewitnesses say that police shot Williams while he was unarmed and his hands were in the air.

In 2006, drummer Dinerral "Dick" Shavers was shot and killed while driving with his family. According to "The Times-Picayune": [citation|url = http://www.nola.com/search/index.ssf?/base/news-18/116737610147820.xml?NZNPMT&coll=1|title= Two die in New Orleans shootings| first=Gwen|last=Filosa|newspaper=The Times-Picayune|date=2006-12-29| accessdate=2007-01-06]

:Dinerral Shavers, 25, died from a gunshot to the back of his head at about 5:30 p.m. while behind the wheel of his black Chevrolet Malibu in the 2200 block of Dumaine Street… His family was not injured… Although critically wounded, Shavers continued driving four blocks up Dumaine before stopping. By 6 p.m., Shavers lay motionless on his back in the middle of the street just outside the open driver's side door… Shavers was taken to a hospital, but died within an hour.

Police said the bullet was intended for Shavers's fifteen-year old stepson. [Citation
last = Philbin
first = Walt
title = Teen held in slaying of drummer
newspaper = The Times-Picayune
date = 2006-12-30
url = http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/metro/index.ssf?/base/news-19/1167462335258450.xml&coll=1
accessdate = 2007-08-24] The Hot 8 Brass Band played at Shavers' funeral.

References

External links

* [http://www.hot8brassband.com/ Hot 8 official site]
*MySpace|hot8brassband|Hot 8 Brass Band