THE BRAZZ BROTHERS HISTORY
Norway has had unique traditions in brass and woodwind playing since the end of the 19th century. No other country in the world have so many brass bands and wind ensembles relative to the population. The Brazz Brothers is a typical result of this unique tradition. The ensemble was founded in 1981 by the brothers of Førde and Tafjord who grew up together on the small island of Sula on the western coast of Norway. They started as a traditional brass quintet with two trumpets, French horn, trombone and tuba after years studying classical music. After playing the classical brass quintet repertoire for some years, The Brazz Brothers started to develop into the field of more improvised music and jazz. In 1986 the Norwegian/Swedish drummer Egil «Bop» Johansen joined the quintet and they started to do their own arrangements and compositions. The combination of brass and drums unlocked doors to many unique and exciting musical experiences.
In December 1986 The Brazz Brothers entered the recording studio and made their first album «Brazzy Landscapes» consisting exclusively of the group´s own compositions and arrangements and also included the British singer Phil Minton. This was the beginning of a unique career for The Brazz Brothers.
THE CONCERTS
After years of playing concerts and touring the Scandinavian countries The Brazz Brothers today have visited Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, England, Slovak, Holland, Bosnia, Asia, USA and Africa. During the last years they have given more than 120 concerts a year all over the world. Their reputation as great "live" performers makes them favourites in every festival and concert program. The audience are "singing praises" and they have got overwhelming reviews for their performances and recordings.
"The Brazz Brothers set the brass instruments in focus in a new an refreshing way"....
Tireless efforts in the realm of music education have resulted in vast of new audiences for the Art of The Brazz Brothers.
THE MUSIC
The music of The Brazz Brothers represent a unique mix of traditional jazz, modern jazz and folk music from different parts of the world. The Scandinavian folk music tradition is strongly represented. The musicians are continuosly striving towards an open minded way of playing where both improvisation and musical intuition play major parts. All this presented and performed with instrumental virtuosity and spontaneous humour.
MUSIC EDUCATION
«The Brazz Brothers Earport»
The Brazz Brothers include educational events for beginners, advanced amateurs, professional musicians as well as music teachers, on the subject «playing by ear» in music education. The ensemble has given lectures and workshops on this subject for many years all over Europe, Asia, Africa and USA. The method is based on children´s natural ability to imitate when playing by ear and stimulates all the senses in the learning process. The Brazz Brothers have developed this method with focus especially on rythm and improvisation.
Recordings:
"Brazzy Landscapes", Odin 1987.
"Brazz Bros. Live At Oslo Jazzhouse", Odin 1989.
"Norwegian Air", Norsk Plateproduksjon 1993.
"Afrobrazz",with seven African musicians), Norsk Plateproduksjon 1994.
"All Included", Norsk Plateprodukasjon 1994.
"Juleferga", Norske Gram 1995.
"Brazzy Voices", with Lester Bowie, In+ Out Records 1996.
"It´s so nice to meet The Brazz Brothers", with The Marine Band of the Royal Netherlands Navy, Naval Records 1996.
"Roll Tide Roll" with Jan Johansen, Lionheart Records 1997.
"New Orleans Parade" with The Royal Norwegian Marine Band, MM Marine 1998.
"Towards the Sea", BrazzRecords 1998.
"Ngoma", BrazzRecords 1999.
"Aftenvind", with Povl Dissing, BrazzRecords 2000.
"Aquarium", BrazzRecords 2001.
"Live in Cape Town", with Women Unite, BrazzRecords 2003.
"African Marketplace", with The Royal Norwegian Marine Band, MM Marine 2004.
"Rosalina", with Povl Dissing and Benny Andersen, BrazzRecords 2004.
"VagaBlot", with Vaga Spelmannslag, BrazzRecords 2007.
The Brazz Brothers and international guest stars:
The Brazz Brothers often invites guest stars and partners in their musical projects. Musicians like Lester Bowie (trp.), John Surman (sax) Famoudou Don Moye (perc.), Amina Meyers (piano, organ), Youssou N´Dour, David Peaston, Rebecca Storm, Phil Minton, Povl Dissing, Jan Johansen, Sissel Kyrkjeboe (voc.) Hukwe Zawose (trad.voc.) and many others.
The Brazz Brothers also present own compositions and arrangements in co-operation with other bands like Lester Bowie´s Brass Fantasy (USA), the Tanzanian band Tatunane ("Afrobrazz"), 12 piece drum-ensemble from Japan Shi-da-ra, Marine Band of the Royal Netherlands Navy, Eikanger-Bjørsvik Brass-Band (Norway), , Bergen Philharmonic Orch., Trondheim Symphony Orch., Norwegian Broadcasting Orch., Stavanger Symphony Orch. (Norway). Swedish Chamber Orch., Orphei Drängar, men choir (Sweden).
The Brazz Brothers have been presented by:
Molde International Jazz Festival, Molde
Vossa Jazz, Voss
Bergen Internasjonale Festspill, Bergen
Oslo Jazzfestival
Sildajazz, Haugesund
Sandviken Big Band Bang, Jazzfestival, Sandviken
Umeå Jazz, Umeå
Jazz & Blues Festival, Linköping
Piteå Music Festival, Piteå
Musik ved Siljan, Rättvik
All Saints Music Festival, Ørebro
Värmland Classics, Karlstad
Copenhagen Autumn Jazz, Copenhagen
Pori Jazz, Pori
Lieksa Brass Week, Lieksa
3rd Scandinavian Brass Symposium, Helsinki
North Sea Festival, Den Haag
De Doelen, Rotterdam
Paradiso, Amsterdam
International Trumpet Guild, Rotterdam
Kulture e Sarajevu, Sarajevo
Reigen, Vienna
Schleswig Holstein Musik Festival
Jazzfest-96, Rottweil
Kampnagel, Hamburg
Jazz Baltica, Kiel
Merck Herbst Musik, Darmstadt
Kultur Arena, Jena
Jazz á Vienne, Vienne
Jazz, Pop, Rock Kafe, Bratislava
London Jazz Festival, London
Barbican Centre, London
Qeen Elizabeth Hall, London
Northlands Festival, Scottland
Symphony Space, Manhattan, New York
Cordelia Café, New York
Northern Encounters, Toronto
Toyohashi Kinrou Fukushi Kaikan, Japan
Aichiken Kinrou Fukushi Kaikan, Nogoya. Japan
B&G Toei Kaiyou Center, Toei, Japan
Grand Philharmonic Hall, Vilnius, Lithuania
Wagners Hall, Riga, Latvian
Eesti Kontsert, Talinn, Estland
The Olympic Winter Games Closing Ceremony ´94, Lillehammer
Euro Song - 96, Intermission Show, Oslo
Expo 2000, Hannover
The Brazz Brothes have given workshops and seminars at:
National Academy Of Music, Oslo
Bergen Music Conservatory, Bergen
Tromsø Music Conservatory, Tromsø
The Royal Academy Of Music, Stockholm
Academy Of Music, Arvika
Juilliard School of Music, New York
Lincoln Center Institute, New York
Elementary School, East Harlem
Talent Unlimited High School (Fame), New York
London College of Music, London
Bratislava Music Conservatory, Bratislava
Presov University, Presov
Leuwen University, Leuwen
Music Academy, Sarajevo
Music Academy of Dresden, Dresden
Goethe Institute, Daar Es Salaam
Bagamoyo College Of Art, Tanzania
Intern. Congress Of Music Education(ICME), Amsterdam
Intern. Trumpet Guild, Rotterdam
Hilversums Conservatorium, Hilversum
Lieksa Brass Week, Lieksa
3rd Scandinavian Brass Symposium, Helsinki
Musikmässan, Gothenburg