The Funky Butt Brass Band was formed in 2008 by six musicians who respect and revere the New Orleans brass band tradition. Made up of members of Gumbohead, The Feed, Musica Slesa and other renowned St. Louis groups, the FBBB takes traditional New Orleans brass tunes and gives them a funky flavor, in the style of the Dirty Dozen and Rebirth Brass Bands. But don’t be surprised if you also hear a little Motown, some Southern rock and a touch of straight-ahead Chicago blues.
PERCUSSION
By day, Ron is a Band Director and college percussion instructor. By night, he's a freelance musician, composer and arranger. He is married to Catie, and they live down south in bucolic Jefferson County with their three lovely daughters. Along with drumming with FBBB and his many teaching responsibilities, Ron stays busy playing rubboard and percussion with Gumbohead. He is also an accomplished jazz vibraphonist, and is endorsed by Smith Mallets and Lewi Customs Cajons.
GUITAR/VOCALS
Tim attended his first New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival in 1989 and hasn’t missed one since. In real life, he is a freelance writer and artist. In addition to the FBBB, Tim plays guitar and sings with Gumbohead. He grew up in Harbor Springs, Michigan, a beautiful little town on the shores of Little Traverse Bay, and has a degree in English from Miami (Ohio) University.
SOUSAPHONE
Matt began playing the sousaphone (it’s not a tuba!) at the age of ten in his school band in St. Louis. He continued through high school and two years at UMSL before taking a 20-year break to rest his shoulder. In 2005, he had a lapse of judgment and returned to playing part-time before joining Funky Butt. In his day job, Matt works for the St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission.
SAXOPHONE/VOCALS
Ben has been involved in St. Louis's original music scene for more than ten years. While attaining a Jazz Performance degree from S.I.U.E., Ben cut his teeth with rock/jam band, E.M. Grueve. During this period, Ben found some lifelong soul brothers and formed Hip Grease, playing boogaloo jazz and soul funk. Later, he picked up the bass guitar, added some effects to his sax and found a new voice with original band The Feed. Currently, Ben works in an instrument repair shop and gives private lessons on all woodwinds. He lives on the south side of St. Louis with his wife Sarah and their two young children.
TRUMPET/VOCALS
Originally from Millstadt, Illinois, Adam is an Assistant Professor of Music at Southwestern Illinois College teaching various music courses and directing the SWIC Jazz Ensemble. Along with playing trumpet and singing in FBBB, Adam performs with Musica SLESA, Downtime, Slam and many others. Adam also enjoys cooking, playing ukulele, good beer and laughing a minimum of 400 times a day.
TROMBONE/VOCALS
Aaron's musical history stretches back to his great-grandfather Pryor Thurman, a hell of a hand on fiddle. At 12, he discovered the trombone and quickly became a "not quite" child prodigy. He was accepted into the music program at Southeast Missouri State University, which led to numerous opportunities including playing with such legends as Clark Terry, The Temptations, and Rufus Thomas. With his wonderful wife Erica, two young rowdy sons Milo and Hank, a thriving trombone repair and modification business, a love of fine sandwiches and an active musical career, Aaron considers himself one of the luckiest guys on Earth.
All photos above by Corey Woodruff.
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