HBE are seven brothers from the south side of Chicago who come from an extraordinary musical family. The band freely mix the brass band tradition with generous doses of hip hop, soul and funk, creating an intoxicating and boisterous blend that is just barely contained on their newest release Fly: The Customs Prelude. They have toured throughout Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa and South America playing with everyone from Prince, Mos Def , Mick Jones (The Clash) and Damon Albarn (Blur, Gorillaz). They’ve performed Coachella, WOMAD AU, Jazz at Lincoln Center, The Sydney Opera House and Carnegie Hall. The documentary film Brothers Hypnotic, explores their music, work ethic, life and experience of being raised by their jazz legend father Phil Cohran. After screening in major cities and festivals, it aired on PBS. Their song, “War” was featured in the blockbuster hit movie, Hunger Games.
“Trafficking in a free-flowing blend of jazz, hip-hop and Afrobeat, the group can resemble the world’s funkiest marching band one minute, an unhinged New Orleans funeral procession the next. “ — Los Angeles Times
“A huge brass bridge of genuinely hypnotic polyphony connecting the cosmic jazz of Sun Ra’s Arkestra with the urgency of hip hop and the sweeping emotional scale of a Curtis Mayfield blaxploitation opus. “ — FADER
http://www.hypnoticbrassensemble.com/
