In the late 70’s through the early 80’s, all the brothers were born on the southside of Chicago, Illinois. Their family had a strong musical legacy that spanned the city. In 1986, their father formed “Phil Cohran and th Youth Ensemble”. The eight brothers performed with their mothers, older brothers and sisters, as well as their father, Kelan Phil Cohran (co-founder of AACM, Sun Ra’s lead trumpeter, mentor to “the Pharoah’s”, later known as ” Earth Wind and Fire”).
By the end of the nineties, with everyone out of school, they brought together their musicianship, their jazz roots and their hip hop sensibility, and made a living busking on the streets of Chicago. They came up up with their name after an incident on the El: playing on the platform, a man in a suit watched them for hours, missing train after train, till in the end he walked up to them and said, “You guys just hypnotized me”.
Eventually the group transferred to New York City, and after playing out relentlessly, including gigs with Mos Def and Erykah Badu, and some particularly incendiary shows in Europe, they have come to be known as one of the hottest and most individual bands around. Read more at hypnotic brass ensemble.
Then you’ll def want to RSVP for fast-track entry (free).
Saturday, August 16 at 9 p.m., tickets free
Brooklyn Night Bazaar
165 Banker Street Greenpoint
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