On Made In New Orleans, New Breed Brass Band presents a brand of second line music in conversation with everything from Caribbean music to No Limit Records to modern R&B in the vein of Bruno Mars and Anderson Paak’s Silk Sonic. Guest appearances—including from local legends Kango Slim, Wild Wayne, and the late great 5th Ward Weebie, as well as Dave Matthews Band saxophonist Jeff Coffin—deepen the exuberant chaos. It’s joyful and vital and distinctly of the moment—music for and by New Orleans’ next generation. 

Though the young musicians were ensconced in second line culture—band leader Jenard Andrews’ father is the great trumpeter James Andrews, and his uncle is Trombone Shorty, the New Orleans scene lynchpin — it took something of an intervention to help them find their own sound.

Says Jenard: “In New Orleans, everyone starts out as a Rebirth cover band until you find your thing. We were jamming out on some Rebirth stuff at Trombone Shorty’s studio. Shorty comes in and gives it to us straight: “This isn’t practicing, you’re just jamming on some Rebirth. You’ve gotta find your own thing.” 

Trombone Shorty began coaching them up, and their sound took shape: The rhythmic versatility of the local jazz and funk scenes—as well New Orleans hip-hop from Cash Money to bounce—fused with second line culture to create something distinctly theirs. As Jenard puts it: “We wanted to get real New Orleans street on them.”

Audiences took notice. They toured North America and Europe, and opened for The Fray, Blackalicious, Dr. John, and eventually Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue.

With Made In New Orleans, New Breed Brass Band forge a new path for 21st century second lines—it’s just up to listeners to follow their lead down the parade route.