My last piece was my pick of the Albums of the Decade which…as the lead into the article says…had some surprises and some usual suspects. I accept that and think the majority of folks would also accept that SOMEWHERE on their list of favorite music artists, songs, bands…whatever…they would have some usual suspects and some surprises.

Being across the pond, in the UK we have a GREAT music scene and a lot of fresh music comes from our slightly (HA!) smaller shores. However, my personal preference in music is most music that’s been inspired by the Black culture of the United States of America. And I’m not talking about Lil Wayne.

Put it this way, if I HAD to name a favorite singer…it’d probably be Al Green. Or Sam Cooke. What about Nat? Not 100% sure. My favorite pure musician is Miles Davis. Or Dizzy. No, not Rascal…Gillespie. Favorite movie? Blues Brothers…purely because of Cab Calloway’s WONDERFUL performance of ‘Minnie the Moocher’ and the scene in Ray Charles shop. And who can forget Aretha dancing around her diner. Awesome. Sure, I’m a HUGE Jay Z fan because I think he’s consistenlty made good and thought provoking music. I’m also a huge Common fan.

Now…as a White, middle class, 20-something you might think that’s a little odd.

What’s even MORE odd…regardless of who I am or where I’m from…is that I’m not afraid to branch out. If I hear something I like in a bar or I hear someone else listening to something I like, I’ll ask who it is. I’ll never laugh off anyone’s opinion if they tell me what they’re listening to is good. I’ll listen to it and then make my mind up. In my Albums of the Decade, for instance, I had an LP from a VERY niche and little known rap group named Tanya Morgan and another from Blu & Exile. I HIGHLY recommend checking them out.

Buuuuuuuut…getting back to the title of THIS piece.

I don’t think I’ve ever been as immediately struck by a piece of music as I was by this.

If you’ve never heard of Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, PLEASE give them a listen.

They’re a Chicago based, 9-piece brass band, of which EIGHT of the members are sons of jazz legend Phil Cohran. They started out as a street band, had major stays in New York and have now recorded a number of albums.

Let me say again…this, as it was to me, is probably brand new to you and is CERTAINLY cool.