Dirty Dozen BrassBand

The Dirty Dozen Brass Band formed in New Orleans in 1977, emerging from the Social Aid and Pleasure Club circuit of the Tremé neighborhood. From the start, they were interested in expanding beyond the traditional brass band repertoire, incorporating bebop harmonies, funk rhythms, and R&B energy into the format.

Their early residency at the Caldonia Inn on N. Rampart Street became a legendary gathering, as musicians and music lovers came to experience the band's revolutionary take on the tradition. They were demonstrating that the brass band format was not a museum piece but a living, evolving form.

The Dirty Dozen went on to tour internationally, recording for Columbia and other major labels and collaborating with artists including Elvis Costello, Dr. John, Dizzy Gillespie, and Widespread Panic. They demonstrated the music's broad appeal and versatility to audiences worldwide.

They remain one of the essential live acts in New Orleans, continuing to perform with the energy and musical ambition that has always characterized their work. Their influence on every brass band that came after them — the Rebirth, the Soul Rebels, and dozens of others — cannot be overstated.