The Brass Monkeys are an eclectic improvising wild bunch influenced by jazz, blues, reggae, country, free improvisation, soul, folk. Performing an exciting mix of original material and unusual classics they offer a reverent but maverick take on the history of musical improvisation. The repertoire is half original and a range of material from all kinds of sources including tunes by Herbie Nicols, Bill Frisell, Lillian Hardin and Lester Bowie.
The Brass Monkeys are: tuba/leader: Ben Higham (Monk Inc., Arthur, Loverly) / trumpets/flugels: Chris Dowding (Natural Causes, Rude 2.0) Charlotte Keeffe (Space Painters,The Anthropology Band) / French horn: Jim Rattigan (Pavilion, Haden/Bley Liberation Music Orchestra) / trombones: Annie Whitehead (Rude 2.0, Penguin Cafe Orchestra), Kieran McLeod (New World, Julian Arguelles Septet) / saxophones/clarinets: Paul Jolly (The People Band, Loverly, Sothiac) Rob Milne (Nebula Sun) / drums: Olly Blackman (Hackney Colliery Band, Quadracerotops)