From the moment the Hot Eight Brass
Band took the stage at the IMU this past Sunday, one thing was clear: they
wanted the audience to have a good time. With their self-proclaimed “feel-good”
musical style based heavily in traditional New Orleans jazz (think “Down by the
Riverside”), the band had both young and old out of their seats dancing and
singing along with the music. Though, to be honest, some of the younger folks
may have been more or less coerced into getting on their feet so as not to be
bested by Grandma’s ample dance moves.
The tunes came fast and furious, with the tempo only rarely dropping below a brisk pace. This is, after all, music based in a city where they even play upbeat music at the funerals. When things did slow down, however, the band’s individual members really had a chance to stand out. When the stage lights turned all red for “St. James Infirmary” and the trumpet rang out low and somber, the Hot Eight’s melancholy side really shone through.
Each band member had multiple
opportunities to solo, with two or three taken each song. The soloists didn’t
seem to always be chosen beforehand, which made for an intriguing, spontaneous
feel to the music. However, a few times the band members seem to be fumbling
around waiting for someone to take the lead on a song. Fortunately the
awkwardness of those moments passed quickly enough, and one of the players
would jump into the spotlight.
But
what impressed me more than the individual chops of each player was the way the
band was able to bring it all together after an extended period of counterpoint
playing into something both melodic and groovy. Their ability to play both
complex counterpoint jazz lines and smooth melodies, combined with their
excellent stage presence, made the Hot Eight a fantastic deal at no cost to the
audience. The way these guys had fun onstage was definitely contagious, and had
everybody feeling a little bit like they were out on the bayou despite the
frigid temperatures outside.
Brian
