Also Published @ Live For Live Music
Mardi Gras will never be the same after seeing The Funky Dawgz Brass Band, last Saturday at the Georgetown Saloon in Redding, CT. The UConn based ensemble roots itself in the heart of New Orleans Brass Band tradition, bringing music of the Big Easy all over New England. As sousaphonist Josh Murphy describes it, the band is “a high energy, infectiously fun, makes you want to move your feet type of music.”
The Funky Dawgz grew out of the UConn Marching Band, “after Assistant Director of Bands, Marvin McNeil (Trombone) had the idea to start a New Orleans Brass Band after he visited New Orleans in 2005 with the Basketball team,” said Murphy. Initially, The Funky Dawgz had the intent to give back, engage and inspire music education in Connecticut’s inner city schools, but after their beginnings in January 2012, “it’s been a roller coaster ever since,” said Murphy.
The Funky Dawgz’ refreshing mix of brass band favorites and modern pop tunes create an high-energy party environment regardless of the venue. The 11-piece outfit was crammed toe-to-toe on Georgetown’s diminutive stage, atypical of your average Saturday-night bar band. The Dawgz were on fire: three trumpets, two trombones, saxophones, sousaphone and percussion in a brass frenzy.
Mardi Gras beads spread across the floor of the small venue, with low brass lines coaxing listeners onto the dance floor. “Though we all weren’t music majors, we all shared a deep passion for making music together and love for music in general. Especially this genre, it’s so full of energy and infectious it’s almost impossible to not have fun while we play,” Said Murphy.
The Funky Dawgz laid down some of my personal favorites, including Rebirth Brass Band’s “Do Whatcha Wanna,” but things got wild when The Dawgz began to blow Haddaway’s “What Is Love” and Daft Punk’s “Get Lucky”. The horns were blaring and the Sousaphone was grooving on Daft Punk’s bass line. Instantly the entire room was cluttered with people dancing and singing, with Tommy Weeks (Tenor Sax) soloing in the middle of the dance floor.
When it comes to their creative process, The Funky Dawgz’ begin with a simple idea or melody, then develop that idea into multiple part harmony.
“For example, in the song Fire one of our trumpet players, Chris (Chewy), had the idea to chant “I Like to Move It” in the intro, we tested it out once and it was a hit so it stuck,” said Murphy. He continued, saying “we take these ideas and learn them on our horns then just play them. After we add in the new idea then the process repeats itself until we feel like we have a tune that sounds great and people can dance too.
“I’ll use our tune ‘Just Might Love You’ as an example. Tyler Reese, one of our trumpet players, came in with the bass line, and a melody line. (There wasn’t even a title at this point) We learned all these parts and then started adding harmonies. The more each member contributes, the more ownership they have over a tune, so it’s not an individuals tune it’s our entire groups tune,” said Murphy.
The more I listened to The Funky Dawgz, the more I heard. These melodies became separate parts of the whole. You could feel the emotion from each player as they decrescendo, playing very soft, and literally lowering their bodies closer to the stage floor. Then with meticulous control, the band snapped back full force. It is simply something you must feel and experience!
In Murphy’s eyes, “second Line music is not about listening, it’s about being involved by dancing, singing, or clapping along. This music was originally played to celebrate life and the fun that can be in it. It’s worth giving it a listen if you want to have a good time.” A good time, to say the least.
The Funky Dawgz include: Colin Walters (Alto Saxophone); Tommy Weeks (Tenor Saxophone); Chris Chhoeun, Aaron Eaddy and Tyler Reese (Trumpet); Mike Marsters and Marvin McNeill (Trombone); Josh Murphy (Sousaphone) and Steve Jack, Jon Singngam and Devon Farquharson (Percussion). However, the band regularly features different UConn musicians.
Check out them playing “Crazy In Love” & “Get Lucky” below:
—————-
Set 1:
New Orleans Music
I Feel Like Funkin’ It Up
Snowball
Ain’t Nothin’ But A Party
Sweet Dreams
AP Touro
Get Lucky
Wind It Up
Fire
Set 2:
You Know You Know
Shake Your Body Down
Thinkin’ About Ya
Dawgz Groove
Just Might Love You
No. 1
Cassanova
Do Whatcha Wanna
Uptown Funk
I Like It Like That
When The Saints Go Marching In
Charles DeFilippo Music 