ViCE Jazz hosts funk band

Mally Anderson Arts Editor

As part of Tuesday jazz night at Matthew’s Mug, ViCE Jazz will host the dynamic New Orleans funk band Brotherhood of Groove on Tuesday, Oct. 3. The Miscellany News had a chance to talk with the band’s front man, Brandon Tarricone, about the band’s music and its activism.

When asked about Brotherhood of Groove’s musical influences, Tarricone cited everyone from “Coltrane to Marvin Gaye to OutKast to Jimi Hendrix,” and also credited the band’s hometown of New Orleans as being a vital part of its musical identity. He called his music a “newer funk sound,” with roots in old-school jazz and modern danceable rock and R&B. Their Web site, brotherhoodofgroove.com, streams live music for sampling.

Brotherhood of Groove has a repertoire of more than 100 songs—both original pieces and covers—from which they assemble a different set list for each show. Their national fall tour will follow over 100 shows in the last four years, including appearances at festivals such as Voodoo Fest and French Quarter Fest in New Orleans.

Brotherhood of Groove’s accolades include a nomination for Best Funk Band alongside Galactic and Papa Grows Funk at the Big Easy awards. Also, the album “Pocket Full of Funk” was voted one of the Top 10 Louisiana releases of 2002 by Gambit Weekly. Tarricone was also voted as one of the Top 10 guitarists of 2001 by a jambase.com reader poll.

The band’s New Orleans roots have an important role in their lives offstage as well. The band is working hard with the Louisiana non-profit organization called the Backbeat Foundation, devoted to helping musicians affected by Hurricane Katrina. The band toured right after the hurricane, raising more than $70,000 to aid 60 musicians. Despite all the immediate assistance that the band and countless others donated to the cause, Tarricone noted that “the city is really still hurting in a lot of ways.”

Backbeat Foundation’s goal has transformed into more community-based programming, hosting events such as open drum circles in New Orleans to preserve and build upon the unique heritage of the Crescent City. See backbeat.org for more information.

Brotherhood of Groove’s latest album, “BOG Style,” features singer and guitarist Tarricone, Geoff Vidal on the saxophone, Jon Messing on the drums, and a number of guest musicians including Dave Grippo (Phish) and Brian Jordan (Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe). “Style” was also mixed by Mark Bingham, who has worked with such legends as Stevie Wonder and R.E.M.

Brotherhood of Groove played last year at the Mug—in fact, many of their performances are for college audiences. Brotherhood of Groove’s Vassar appearance this year promises a high-energy musical experience for a worthy cause. The concert will be held in the Mug on Tuesday, Oct. 3 at 10 p.m.