Olympia Brass Band

No relation to the Olympia Orchestra (Freddie Keppard's band of 1906-1914), the Olympia Brass Band was founded in 1958 by altoist Harold Dejan. Although the group (which often played at parades and parties) always had plenty of spirit, its so-so musicianship resulted in some very erratic music, with the ensembles often being out of tune. Usually the band consisted of three trumpets, two trombones, two saxes, clarinet, tuba or sousaphone, snare drum, and bass drum. Among its more notable members were… Show more trumpeters Andy Anderson and Kid Sheik Colar, Emanuel Paul on tenor, and Alan Jaffe (of the Preservation Hall Jazz Band) on sousaphone. The Olympia Brass Band recorded albums for Mono in 1962; New Orleans Anthology in 1965; and Nola, MPS, and 77 in 1968. Into the '70s and beyond, the group recorded for such labels as Audiophile, VPS, OBB, the Dutch Beerendonk label, Mardi Gras, BBS, Maison Soul, Rose, Rounder, and Pro Jazz. The band became less active in the 1990s. ~ Scott Yanow, Rovi

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