8 Tracks: Of New Orleans Brass Bands With Chants
Wisconsin-based producer Jordan Cohen aka Chants returns to Astral Plane Recordings this month with his third EP on the label. Built around finely attuned samples and self-recorded drum loops, Carious Motion is arguably his strongest collection of splintered club tracks yet, and features ballroom MC BE3K on the opening track.
Starting in college, Cohen spent a lot of time playing drums in a New Orleans-style brass band, and continues to do so to this day, leading to one of the most interesting and passionate 8 Tracks selections we've had in a while. Fill your head below.
Carious Motion is out 16th March on Astral Plane Recordings, pre-order here.
Before I started making electronic music in a serious way, I was obsessed with trying to play second line music like a New Orleans drummer. You have one person playing the snare and another playing the bass drum, and I mentally relate a lot of club music drum patterns back to this music. Not to mention the sheer energy. I stole the bass drum beat from this classic for my ‘Crushed Lollipop VIP’ (get it?).
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New Birth Brass Band - Ms. LollipopBefore I started making electronic music in a serious way, I was obsessed with trying to play second line music like a New Orleans drummer. You have one person playing the snare and another playing the bass drum, and I mentally relate a lot of club music drum patterns back to this music. Not to mention the sheer energy. I stole the bass drum beat from this classic for my ‘Crushed Lollipop VIP’ (get it?).
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Soul Rebels Brass Band - Shake That ThingThis kick drum pattern is commonly associated with Jersey club these days, but the first time I heard it was on the Diwali riddim. This is the Soul Rebels Brass Band doing a brass band-ified medley of Diwali dancehall tunes (Wayne Wonder, Lumidee, etc).
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Rebirth Brass Band - Blackbird SpecialThis is based on another Jersey-ish bass drum pattern (if you’re coming to it with dance music ears). Rebirth are largely responsible for the modern second line sound – living legends.
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Youngblood Brass Band - Ain't NobodyThese are my friends. <3 David, one of the best drummers I’ve ever heard (& regular attendee of my weekly potluck), played snare drum & timbau on the first two tracks of the 'Carious Motion' EP.
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Lil' Rascals Brass Band - Roll With Me, Knock With MeNew Orleans club classic.
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Hustlers Brass Band - Let's Go Get 'EmModern brass band drumming is heavily based on Mardi Gras Indians music. This is an Indian tune through & through – call & response chants, lots of tambourine & bell, completely dependent on the energy the musicians bring to it.
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Tbc Brass Band - Shallow WaterAnother banger based on a Mardi Gras Indians chant from TBC.
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Rebirth Brass Band - A.P. TureaudDeborah Cotton was a dedicated chronicler of the scene, putting up videos of the second line parades every week. Since I could only travel to New Orleans every so often, it was incredibly important to me to be able to keep up with the music and immerse myself from afar. Unfortunately she passed away last year – RIP Big Red Cotton, and please watch all the videos on her channel. This one features a lot of Kabuki (whose trumpet playing is one of my favorite sounds in all of music) blowing in your face.
