JAZZFEST REVIEW: Times-Picayune (New Orleans)

Rain held off at New Orleans Jazz Fest on Thursday morning, letting sousaphone star Kirk Joseph share his New Orleans roots with fans at the Acura Stage. A founding member of the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Joseph led his own ensemble, Back Yard Groove, through a program of dense, bottom-shaking funk, anchored by his big silver horn. On Thursday (May 2), Backyard Groove ran about as deep as the Mississippi River, with two trap drummers, two percussionists, a savvy two-man horn section, and a guitarist…

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Sousafunk Ave Ranked Among WWOZ’s Top Albums of the Decade

Legendary New Orleans radio WWOZ chose “Sousafunk Ave” as one of the Top New Orleans CDs for the decade. Albums selected are listed alphabetically by first name below. Group – Year – Label – CD Title Aaron Neville – 2003 – Verve – Nature Boy Bobby Lounge – 2005 – self – I Remember The Night Your Trailer Burned Down Chris Thomas King – 2006 – 21 Century Blues – Rise Cubanismo – 2000 – Hannibal – Mardi Gras Mambo Deacon John – 2003 –…

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ALBUM REVIEW: Offbeat Magazine (New Orleans)

Sousaphonist Kirk Joseph puts his solitary mark on the hard-driving opener, “Backyard Groove.” He and guest, saxophonist Donald Harrison, who lays down his own distinctive stamp, engage in some fine bobbing and weaving with solid riffing by the horns of trumpeter Raymond Williams and saxophonist Sherik Akbar. Drummer Kevin O’Day is just all over this tune. Expect the unexpected on this package from the sousaphone master as the next voice—and piano—up is Dr. John, on the aptly titled “Laid Back.” It’s a natural to slide…

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RECORDING: Dirty Dozen Brass Band

Kirk Joseph is one of the founding members of the Dirty Dozen Brass Band. Visit the DDBB on Amazon.com for a listing of recordings. “New Orleans’ most passionate and well-known brass band that finds the funk regardless of which genre they decide to delve into.” – Hal Horowitz The Dirty Dozen Brass Band is credited with reviving the brass band tradition in New Orleans.In 1977, The Dirty Dozen Social and Pleasure Club in New Orleans began showcasing a traditional Crescent City brass band. It was…

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