Treme Brass Band

The Treme Brass Band belongs to the wave of modern brass ensembles that emerged in New Orleans, drawing direct inspiration from the late Danny Barker, who revived a fading tradition through his Fairview Baptist Church School for Brass Bands, and from the forward-thinking Dirty Dozen Brass Band. After the Dozen achieved widespread recognition, numerous groups followed in their wake. The Treme Brass Band quickly established itself among the foremost acts in this style, showcasing accomplished players such as Kermit Ruffins and James Andrews.

More than a geographic area, the Treme district embodies a distinctive atmosphere. Singer John Boutté captured this essence in his composition “Down in the Treme,” which evokes residents strolling past doorways from which music constantly spills, fostering communal identity and exuberance. Band members absorbed this outlook during their upbringing. Throughout New Orleans, and especially within the Treme, music functions as a vital force, sustaining thriving jam sessions. A short distance away on Rampart Street, Donna’s Bar and Grill regularly presents familiar local performers such as Bob French, Sista Teedy, George French, Germaine Bazzle, and the Treme Brass Band itself. Bandleader Benny Jones, positioned at the snare drum, often directs the ensemble through its signature piece “Gimme My Money Back.” Meanwhile, bass drummer Lionel Batiste exchanges playful remarks with listeners while he and tuba player Kerwin James anchor the pulse beneath trumpet, trombone, and saxophone lines. Regardless of the moment, the crowd participates wholeheartedly in the classic street music of the city.

Brass band practice originated at the beginning of the twentieth century, when ensembles remained constantly sought after for parties, parades, funerals, and any event tied to the Social Aid and Pleasure Clubs that continue to flourish. Extended street processions, sometimes lasting hours and covering considerable distances, cultivated distinctive traits that persist among today’s musicians.

The Treme Brass Band honors its local roots across selections on the albums Gimme My Money Back (1995) and I Got a Big Fat Woman (1996). “The Old Rugged Cross” appears in its conventional dirge arrangement, whereas “Just a Closer Walk With Thee” receives an accelerated tempo. References to storied locations and moments surface in “Back O’ Town Blues” and “Darktown Strutters Ball.” A number long associated with Louis Armstrong, “I’ll Be Glad When You’re Dead, You Rascal You,” receives prominent treatment alongside “Food Stamp Blues.” The propulsive groove, bright brass figures, and unrestrained merriment signal arrival in the City That Care Forgot, where listeners encounter the latest incarnation of brass band music as rendered by the Treme Brass Band while the Second Line moves onward.