The staid reputation of marching bands has been
upended in recent years by the wider exposure of the New Orleans brass band tradition as well as
the general shift toward cultural eclecticism. Witness Portland,
Ore.’s MarchFourth Marching Band, for whom Crescent City funk is only the starting point.
Melodious and rhythmic, M4 combines the hand-clapping urgency of horns and
percussion with influences from the Near East, the Balkans, Brazil and the
Caribbean, along with a touch of swing and bop. Unlike the many bands that toss
ingredients into the stew pot and hope for the best, M4's blend of elements
sounds entirely natural and electrifying.
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