Kirk Joseph
Encyclopedia
Kirk Joseph is a jazz
sousaphone
player from New Orleans, Louisiana
. The son of trombonist
Waldren "Frog" Joseph
, Kirk Joseph began playing the sousaphone while a student at Andrew Bell Middle School, and took part in his first professional gig at the age of fifteen when his brother Charles invited him to play a funeral with the Majestic Band.
In 1977 he became one of the founding members of the Dirty Dozen Brass Band
, a group which is credited with reviving the brass band
tradition in New Orleans. He has played with the Treme Brass Band
and Forgotten Souls Brass Band
, and currently leads his own group called Kirk Joseph's Backyard Groove
.
Described as a "modern sousaphone pioneer", Joseph claims inspiration from renowned New Orleans tuba
player Anthony "Tuba Fats" Lacen
. In an interview with The Times-Picayune Joseph described the effect Lacen's playing had on his own: "He was the first person I ever heard walking the sousaphone, making it sound like bass.... I took it from there." The style of playing created by Lacen and Joseph was instrumental in establishing the modern New Orleans brass band sound, which combines traditional marching band and Dixieland
traditions with strong jazz
and funk influences.
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
sousaphone
Sousaphone
The sousaphone is a type of tuba that is widely employed in marching bands. Designed so that it fits around the body of the musician and is supported by the left shoulder, the sousaphone may be readily played while being carried...
player from New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
. The son of trombonist
Trombone
The trombone is a musical instrument in the brass family. Like all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player’s vibrating lips cause the air column inside the instrument to vibrate...
Waldren "Frog" Joseph
Waldren Joseph
Waldren "Frog" Joseph was a jazz trombone player from New Orleans, Louisiana. He played in a variety of styles over his career but was best known as a performer of traditional New Orleans jazz in the style carried on today by the Preservation Hall ensembles...
, Kirk Joseph began playing the sousaphone while a student at Andrew Bell Middle School, and took part in his first professional gig at the age of fifteen when his brother Charles invited him to play a funeral with the Majestic Band.
In 1977 he became one of the founding members of the Dirty Dozen Brass Band
Dirty Dozen Brass Band
The Dirty Dozen Brass Band is a New Orleans, Louisiana, brass band. The ensemble was established in 1977 by Benny Jones together with members of the Tornado Brass Band...
, a group which is credited with reviving the brass band
Brass band
A brass band is a musical ensemble generally consisting entirely of brass instruments, most often with a percussion section. Ensembles that include brass and woodwind instruments can in certain traditions also be termed brass bands , but are usually more correctly termed military bands, concert...
tradition in New Orleans. He has played with the Treme Brass Band
Treme Brass Band
The Treme Brass Band is a marching brass band from New Orleans, Louisiana led by snare drummer Benny Jones, Sr. The band, which plays traditional New Orleans brass band music, features a shifting lineup that has included trumpeters Kermit Ruffins and James Andrews, tenor saxophonists Elliot Callier...
and Forgotten Souls Brass Band
Forgotten Souls Brass Band
The Forgotten Souls Brass Band is a New Orleans, Louisiana, brass band.The band performed at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival fairgrounds in 2009 and 2010.The 2010 performance was broadcast live on WWOZ New Orleans radio.-Personnel:...
, and currently leads his own group called Kirk Joseph's Backyard Groove
Kirk Joseph's Backyard Groove
Kirk Joseph's Backyard Groove is a band led by sousaphone player Kirk Joseph. Formed in 2004, the group plays a "rhythmic and high-spirited concoction of jazz, funk, and afro-caribbean flavors". Aside from Joseph, the initial band members were drummer Kevin O'Day, guitarists Chris Mule and Hiro...
.
Described as a "modern sousaphone pioneer", Joseph claims inspiration from renowned New Orleans tuba
Tuba
The tuba is the largest and lowest-pitched brass instrument. Sound is produced by vibrating or "buzzing" the lips into a large cupped mouthpiece. It is one of the most recent additions to the modern symphony orchestra, first appearing in the mid-19th century, when it largely replaced the...
player Anthony "Tuba Fats" Lacen
Anthony Lacen
Anthony "Tuba Fats" Lacen was a jazz tubist and band leader. Tuba Fats was New Orleans' most famous tuba player and played traditional New Orleans jazz and blues for over 40 years....
. In an interview with The Times-Picayune Joseph described the effect Lacen's playing had on his own: "He was the first person I ever heard walking the sousaphone, making it sound like bass.... I took it from there." The style of playing created by Lacen and Joseph was instrumental in establishing the modern New Orleans brass band sound, which combines traditional marching band and Dixieland
Dixieland
Dixieland music, sometimes referred to as Hot jazz, Early Jazz or New Orleans jazz, is a style of jazz music which developed in New Orleans at the start of the 20th century, and was spread to Chicago and New York City by New Orleans bands in the 1910s.Well-known jazz standard songs from the...
traditions with strong jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
and funk influences.