Lucky Chops

Emerging from street performances, the instrumental New York group Lucky Chops functions as a high-energy brass ensemble recognized for captivating stage shows and funk-driven covers shaped by electronic dance music. Their breakthrough arrived in 2014 when footage of a subway mash-up pairing Lipps, Inc.'s "Funkytown" with James Brown's "I Feel Good" spread rapidly online. After issuing multiple EPs, they delivered their first full-length album in 2019 under the title Lucky Chops.

Membership has changed across time, yet the lineup stabilized in 2016 with trombonist Josh Holcomb, tenor saxophonist Daro Behroozi, trumpeter Joshua Gawel, drummer Charles Sams IV, and sousaphonist Raphael Buyo. The project began during the student years of Holcomb, Behroozi, and Gawel at Manhattan's Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts. An additional founding participant was baritone saxophonist Leo Pellegrino (aka Leo P), a graduate of the Manhattan School of Music. Early recognition came through subway busking combined with online video uploads. Viral momentum then opened doors to touring schedules and studio work. Their initial long-form release, NYC, appeared in 2016. Pellegrino departed around that period to concentrate on his brasshouse trio Too Many Zooz. The remaining members followed with the Walter EP one year afterward. After completing tours across India and Europe, they issued their 2019 full-length debut, Lucky Chops.