YoungBlood Brass Band

Artist Description

Globe-trotting riot jazzers Youngblood Brass Band are focused on creating consistently progressive, raw, acoustic music. The nine-member ensemble, born in Wisconsin, now hails from all over the United States (New York, NY / Corpus Christi, TX / New Orleans, LA / Chicago, IL / Madison, WI). They have been touring throughout Europe and the States for the past five years, performing in over fifteen countries and featured at the biggest music festivals in the world: Roskilde, Glastonbury, North Sea Jazz, Blue Note, WOMAD, etc. Their intense on-stage aesthetic secured their status as an incredible group to see live.

YBB's debut album Unlearn was released in 2000, featuring collaborations with Talib Kweli, Mike Ladd, DJ Skooly and ex-Frank Zappa vocalist Ike Willis. This led to a record deal with Ozone Music (NYC), the revolutionary avant-hiphop label that introduced the poetic talents and radical aims of Company Flow (El-P), Mike Ladd, Antipop Consortium and Saul Williams, among others. Their follow-up in 2003, Center:Level:Roar, was released to international acclaim and had them trekking around the globe to nearly sold out audiences everywhere.

YoungBlood's new album Is That a Riot? is their most ground-breaking, experimental music to date (and their first studio record in 3 years). It features new players, all original compositions from multiple band members, and the music being taken to its dynamic, timbral and beat-driven extremes.

YoungBlood are now primed for an even bigger stage with the launch of their record label Layered Music. Layered Music is a division of Layered Arts Collective, based in Madison, Wisconsin. This organization functions as an independent record label, literature and sheet music publishing company, recording studio and forum for like-minded artists/students/educators, working together to build a community focused providing the populace with arts and education-related opportunities. They also conduct a large number of educational visits in addition to their usual club and festival tours. These include performances, workshops, lectures and masterclasses for students ranging from middle school to grad-student level, on subjects ranging from New Orleans brass band history, jazz improvisation, ensemble playing, groove- and sample-based idioms, hiphop culture, african diasporic music, independent music business, culture-clash/genre-bending, creative thought processes and more.