Don't Miss "the Missing Link Between Public Enemy and Louis Armstrong” at Blue Note, Mar 7-8

Kyle Mullin | Mar 3, 2019 5:00 pm | Add a comment | 476 reads

You know you’re doing something special when critics call your band "the missing link between Public Enemy and Louis Armstrong.” Eight-piece New Orleans brass ensemble The Soul Rebels attained that acclaim through both their vibrant concerts and their vast – and eclectic – collaborations over the last two decades, including artists as diverse as Snoop Dogg, Metallica, and David A. Stewart of the Eurythmics. Ahead of their Mar 7 and 8 shows at Blue Note Beijing, co-founder and snare drummer Lumar LeBlanc tells us more about The Soul Rebels eclectic career.

Rebelution (select tracks) by The Soul Rebels

I was blessed to have been raised in the Treme neighborhood of New Orleans in the 6th Ward When I was growing up, brass bands were everywhere. Brass bands were in the street, performing at events and part of our culture's rituals.

Olympia Brass Band was the first band I’d seen as a child. Their sound, style, power, and level of soul blew me away. They were polished and organized. They were stylish and very cool. As a young man, I knew I would become part of the brass band culture. I’ve had a blessed life and continue to receive blessings on my journey.

One of our most unique musical journeys was collaborating with Metallica. It was so much fun and exciting. Both Metallica and The Soul Rebels have such amazing energy together while coming from two totally different sides of the musical spectrum. We also work with Marilyn Manson.

You have to be totally open, versatile and musically equipped to handle that kind of collaboration. The way we bridge the divide between the styles is by bringing soul to each and every collaboration we do. We bring love, energy and a good vibe to the bandstand. The soul and commitment we have when finding the musical connection has enabled us to work with a wide range of artists.

We are also blessed to work with so many great hip-hop and jazz artists and producers. We love the creative process and witness how artists marry the sounds and cultures of jazz and hip hop.

I love how hip-hop has embraced, sampled, borrowed and experimented with jazz. Jazz music is such an intricate and intense art form. It embraces all the sensibilities of freedom and spontaneity, making it a prime source for hip-hop producers to utilize and sample. The melodies, rhythms, and unique sound qualities that jazz presents gives hip hop producers an endless source of inspiration.

Being called the “missing link between Public Enemy and Louis Armstrong” was so flattering. Louis Armstrong is the greatest jazz ambassador and the world’s first musical superstar. He brought a style and flair that is continually enduring. Public Enemy changed the face and scope of hip-hop by raising the level and turning up the heat in their message. So being cited alongside those two institutions is awesome, and we’re grateful.

We just completed our new album. It's our first album in seven years and is drastically different than our last LP [2012’s Unlock Your Mind]. We are very excited for the release. We put in an intense effort to be innovative.

In life, artists grow, change and evolve. We mature and develop. All of our life experiences inspire and inform our artistry. The album we plan to release this summer showcases our journey and reflects the sounds, style, moods and relationships we've cultivated and experienced over our lives. We are really proud of it and can't wait to share with the world.

READ: At 25, Jazz Is Growing up Fast in Beijing

The Soul Rebels will perform at Blue Note Beijing on Mar 7 and 8. Tickets start at RMB 120. For more information, click here.