The Most Wanted Brass Band, formed in 2013, is a group of “seasoned” musicians that simply wants to inspire others through their performance. With over 150 years of combined experience the group stays true to the tradition of brass band music while developing their own modern brass band style for audiences. Individually each member brings their own flavor and style to the “pot of gumbo” (Most Wanted Brass Band) and this is definitely displayed in their performance. All the members are local natives of New Orleans and have traveled throughout their careers around the world to perform for audiences abroad. The members have toured with many bands including Olympia Brass Band, Rebirth Brass Band, Hot 8 Brass Band, Stooges Brass Band, TBC Brass Band, Free Agents Brass Band, and Pinstripes Brass Band to name a few. Their main focus is simply to express themselves freely through music as a group and to bring the enjoyment of New Orleans music to all music lovers across the world. Simply put: Most Wanted Brass Band- Familiar Faces, A New Band, and Great Music.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Karen Lozinski
klozinsk@alum.calarts.edu
917.865.1447
MOST WANTED BRASS BAND MAKES ITS DEBUT WITH CD GIVEAWAY FOR FANS
Self-Titled Disc Available for Download and as Hardcopy
New Orleans, February 25, 2014—The Most Wanted Brass Band has a name that may seem new, because it is—but the band itself has evolved from a beloved staple of New Orleans’ brass band music since 1996—The Stooges. Most Wanted incorporates many of the members of The Stooges into a creatively thriving entity intent on furthering the progression and growth of brass band music with infusions of hip-hop, R&B, soul, rock, and funk. Their new self-titled CD is a gift for longtime friends, fans, and supporters of the musicians involved, as well as a means of reintroducing themselves to New Orleans and the world, and its timing is intentional.
“This is a Mardi Gras giveaway,” says bandleader Ersel Bogan III. “We want people to get acquainted with us as Most Wanted, though they know our names and faces already.”
The CD is a milestone for many of the Most Wanted members, who, as members of The Stooges, have not had their music recorded. The Stooges CD, It’s About Time, was released in 2003.
Virgil Tiller, saxophone player, is one of the musicians who shares that distinction of having played live with The Stooges for ten years without appearing on a CD. He claims Most Wanted offers him and its members a kind of creative democracy with meaningful fluidity, where individual input has high value and projects are given free range to develop and grow.
“We’ve been working on our craft for years, and all that came out on this CD. This is the best band I’ve ever played with. We went into the studio and it all came out right, with a real spiritual feeling.”
The tracks on the CD are a composite of the band’s influences, musical passions, and the multitude of musical directions possible with their lineup. Songs include “That’s What You Get (For Being Polite)” by The Jacksons, traditional numbers like “Mardi Gras in New Orleans,” and Anthony Hamilton’s “Best of Me.” Free download is available at http://soundcloud.com/mostwantedbrassband. The tracks are also on the landing page of the band’s website: http://mostwantedbrassband.com.
The guys in Most Wanted did not have to struggle to come up with their name, finding the moniker in their connection to New Orleans itself.
“We are the sounds of the streets, that’s why we named ourselves Most Wanted,” states Bogan. “We are the ones everyone wants in their parade, at the second line, and that’s where we want to be too.”
Most Wanted had a packed house last week for their Tuesday night residency at the Hi-Ho Lounge on St. Claude Avenue, aptly named “Fat Tuesdays.” The band had a hard time pulling themselves off the stage, as the crowd reveled the sonic continuum of their storied past and rousing present, playing several of their renditions of songs from the new CD.
“This CD is what we think our crowd, the people that support us want to hear,” trombonist Alfred Growe expresses. “This band is a bunch of old faces, cats that been on the brass band scene. The only thing that’s different is the name, and members. We're not out to take over the world, we just want to enjoy ourselves and use the gifts God has given us to make people happy about life. Music is all we know, and we intend to do it until we can't anymore!”
The lineup of Most Wanted Brass Band is: Ersel Bogan III, Alfred Growe III, Virgil Tiller, Christopher Cotton, Antoine Coleman, Burnell Edwards, Clifton Smith, Glenn Preston, and Chris Davis.
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About Most Wanted Brass Band: With over 150 years of combined experience, the group stays true to the tradition of brass band music while developing their own modern style. All the members are natives of New Orleans and have traveled around the world to perform for audiences abroad. They have toured with many bands, including Olympia Brass Band, Rebirth Brass Band, Hot 8 Brass Band, Stooges Brass Band, TBC Brass Band, Free Agents Brass Band, and Pinstripes Brass Band to name a few. Please visit http://mostwantedbrassband.com for more information.

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