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Press Release: March 26, 2012
Exactly thirty five years ago born in the New Orleans neighborhood of Treme, The Dirty Dozen Brass Band revolutionized the New Orleans brass band by incorporating funk and bebop into the traditional style. Anchored by original members Roger Lewis, Kevin Harris, Gregory Davis, Efrem Towns and Kirk Joseph, the band has signed with Savoy Jazz who will help celebrate their auspicious anniversary with the release of TWENTY DOZEN - an all new eleven track album which will be released on May 1st. Produced by Scott Billington at The Music Shed in New Orleans, the album showcases the Dirty Dozen Brass Band's quintessential sound mixed with a heady Carribean flavor. The band will embark on a series of tour dates including a three night BAM residency in Brooklyn with Dr. John and a triumphant series of shows in their native New Orleans culminating in a very special album release/35th Anniversary reunion concert at the Temple on April 28th and a featured slot at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival on May 3rd. (please see the tour dates >>)

Born under the auspices of the Dirty Dozen Social and Pleasure Club in 1977, the Dirty Dozen Brass Band are a seven member ensemble who started out as the house band and eventually broke through the boundaries of the traditional brass band to evolve into a highly lauded world-renowned musical force. With several incarnations throughout the years, the band now consists of Gregory Davis (trumpet, vocals), Roger Lewis (baritone, soprano sax), Kevin Harris (tenor saxophone), Efrem Towns (trumpet, flugelhorn), Kirk Joseph (sousaphone), Terence Higgins (drums) and Kyle Roussel (keyboard). Former member Jake Eckert (guitar) is featured throughout TWENTY DOZEN.

Says Roger Lewis: "It's a big old musical gumbo, and that probably made the difference, separating us from other brass bands out of New Orleans. It put a different twist on the music. We were not trying to change anything, we were just playing the music we wanted to play and not stay in one particular bag."