The Hot 8 Brass Band
New Orleans, Louisiana
The Hot 8 Brass Band has been central to New Orleans street music for over a decade. Founded by Bennie Pete, Jerome Jones, and Harry Cook in 1995, the band has played in traditional Second Line parades—hosted each Sunday afternoon by a Social Aid and Pleasure Club—ever since. The Hot 8 are famous for playing all day in the sun, then hopping to a club gig and playing through the night. But even more than their boundless energy, what makes the Hot 8 special are the sounds they coax from their well-loved, well-worn horns. Just listen to their recordings for a sampling of the rich harmonies and the magical, sweet tone that make it impossible to mistake this band for any other.
The members of the Hot 8 were all born and raised in New Orleans; many of them began playing together in high school. In 1995 they came together and began playing traditional New Orleans brass band music professionally.
Members of the Hot 8 Brass Band have toured in Japan, Italy, France, Spain, Finland, England, and Sardinia. They play regularly at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival ("Jazz Fest") and have played in the Zulu Parade, San Antonio Zulu Association Festival, the City of New Orleans New Year's Celebration and Mo' Fest, the Tom Joyner Morning Show, and the Master P music video “Hootie Hoo.”
The Hot 8 have been the featured band in an important relief project following Hurricane Katrina and the devastation wrought upon New Orleans. SAVE OUR BRASS! is a local grass-roots project that has brought music to evacuee shelters, temporary trailer parks, and communities that have reached out to New Orleanians. As a result, the Hot 8 Brass Band have been featured on CNN, Nightline, and WDSU-TV (New Orleans) and in the New York Times: http://www.hot8brassband.com
In recent months, the Hot 8 have played in the Village Halloween Parade (New York, October 2005), Putumayo Wold Music’s Concert of Thanksgiving (New Orleans, November 2005), South by Southwest Festival (Austin, March 2006), Spike Lee’s twentieth anniversary celebration of Forty Acres and a Mule (New York, April 2006), and the Southern Comfort Music Experience (Atlanta, May 2006). They are in the process of recording their second album.
Here Are the Hot 8:
TUBA: Band leader Bennie "Big Peter" Pete was born in New Orleans in 1976 and has played tuba since the sixth grade. Bennie played previously with the Looney Tunes and was the founder of the Hot 8. His influences include Tuba Fats, Keith Anderson, and Leroy Jones.
TRUMPET: Terrell "Burger" Batiste was born in New Orleans in 1984. He started playing baritone in the seventh grade and joined the Hot 8 while he was still in high school. His influences include Miles Davis, Leroy Jones, and Louis Armstrong.
BASS DRUM: Harry "Swamp Thang" Cook was born in New Orleans in 1976. He began playing in high school at the age of sixteen. Harry's influences include Herlin Riley, Louis Armstrong, and Tuba Fats.
TROMBONE: Jerome "Baybay" Jones was born in New Orleans in 1975. Jerome comes from a family of musicians and has played with the Looney Tunes, Dirty Dozen, Treme, and NewBirth brass bands. Influences include Alonzo Barnes, Keith "Wolf" Anderson, J.J. Johnson, Fred Wesley and Maceo Parker.
TRUMPET: Alvarez "B.I.G. AL" Huntley was born in New Orleans in 1978. He played music in school from the third grade until his graduation from Booker T. Washington high school then attended Southern University at Baton Rouge on a music scholarship, then went to Dallas UNT. His influences include Wynton Marsalis, Stevie Wonder, and Louis Armstrong.
SNARE DRUM: Dinerral "Dick" Shavers was born in New Orleans in 1981. He began playing in his second grade brass band and later played in church, where his mother was the organist. His influences include Herlin Riley, Kermit Ruffins, and the Dirty Dozen.
TRUMPET: Raymond "Dr. Rackle" Williams was born in New Orleans in 1961. He attended college i
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