The Dirty Dozen Brass Band
The Pocket130 West 46th Street, New York 10036
The Dirty Dozen Brass Band brings its seven-piece New Orleans brass-band lineup to The Pocket: Roger Lewis on baritone saxophone and vocals, Gregory Davis on trumpet and vocals, Kirk Joseph on sousaphone, Trevarri Huff-Boone on tenor saxophone and vocals, Stephen Walker on trombone and vocals, Julian Addison on drums, and Takeshi Shimmura on guitar. Their set draws on the traditional brass-band foundation while moving through bebop jazz, funk, and R&B/soul, a blend the band calls a “musical gumbo.”
Founded in New Orleans in 1977, the GRAMMY Award-winning group has spent more than 45 years extending the city’s brass-band tradition. Their 1984 debut, My Feet Can’t Fail Me Now, “sparked a brass band revolution,” according to the band’s Bandcamp page. Across 12 studio albums, they have collaborated with artists including Modest Mouse, Widespread Panic, and Norah Jones, and have toured five continents and more than 30 countries. Reviewers have called the music “bumptious” and “rollicking,” full of “Crescent City enthusiasm”; Tinnitist points to the band’s “irresistible funkitude and stellar musicianship.”
The Pocket offers a close-up encounter with world-class jazz musicians in a small, focused setting where every note feels immediate and unfiltered. The room is designed to bring listeners near the performers, creating a direct connection that makes the music feel personal and vivid. Seating is limited and arranged to emphasize attentive listening rather than casual socializing, with a bar available to complement the experience. Shows are ticketed, encouraging an audience that is there to fully engage with the performance. The venue’s location in Manhattan places it within easy reach of the city’s vibrant cultural pulse, making it a perfect spot for an evening dedicated to serious jazz appreciation without distractions.