BANDA DE LOS MUERTOS
Barbès376 9th St, New York 11215
Banda de los Muertos returns to Barbès for its Saturday-night monthly run, bringing Sinaloa-rooted banda to Brooklyn. The billed ensemble is Oscar Noriega and Chris Speed on clarinets, Jacob Garchik on sousaphone, Ben Holmes and Justin Mullens on trumpets, Curtis Hasselbring and Brian Drye on trombones, Rachel Drehmann on baritone horn, and Jeff Davis on drums. The set draws on the brass-band tradition that accompanies public celebrations in Sinaloa, with the group revisiting the idiom shaped into a major popular style by Banda El Recodo in the 1940s.
Formed in Brooklyn by jazz musicians Noriega and Garchik, Banda de los Muertos plays Mexican brass music known as banda. The New York Times called the project a “cross-cultural experiment working under the cover of staunch traditionalism” and noted that it had built a following, especially among the city’s Mexican community. New York Music Daily described the band as a “Sinaloa-style ranchera brass orchestra,” praising a sound that is “tight, explosively yet meticulously arranged retro,” as well as “mighty” and “exhilarating.” Their self-titled debut was released by Barbès Records.
Barbès offers a compact, warmly worn space where the music feels immediate and close, with a long wooden bar and a back room under a scarlet ceiling that hosts nightly performances. The venue champions a broad spectrum of global sounds, from Balkan brass and klezmer to Afrobeat and experimental jazz, often featuring residencies like the Slavic Soul Party. The audience gathers around small tables or at the bar, sharing drinks crafted with a nod to French spirits, while the music invites attentive listening rather than loud conversation. Shows usually have a suggested donation instead of a cover charge, creating a welcoming environment where the focus is on the artists. The venue’s commitment to accessibility and its role in Brooklyn’s cultural fabric make it a distinctive spot for an evening of richly diverse live music.