COOLBONE
At Tramps, NYC - 8/20/99
Steve "Coolbone" Johnson
At 9:15pm,
Coolbone started their set full of funky, brass-hop (hip-hop with jazzy horns) shit!
Most of the fellas came out with matching outfits (black & white
vertical-striped shirts & baggy jeans). I don't know much as far as the
song set listing, so please bear with me! Interesting enough, Coolbone released
their second set last year. This recent CD "Brass Vibes" is an
independent release, unlike their debut CD "Brass-Hop" (on Hollywood
Records in 1997). Apparently, Hollywood Records wasn't doing anything but
hurtin' Coolbone, so the group left the label & record company. I believe
this story is somewhat revealed in the song "Intro: Da Game" on the
"Brass Vibes" CD.
Anyway,
I don't think that I heard anything recognizable from their debut CD. From my
recollection, I believe they did "Intro: Da Game", "Layin' It
Down 2nd Line Style" and "Supposed To Be Brothers" were
performed. The group also did a rap to the music of Mavis Staples's "I'll
Take You There". The group is a wonderful amalgamation of jazz, funk &
hip-hop! The horns were funky, as well as keyboards & drums. I might be
wrong, but the tuba sounded extraordinary funky, acting as the "bass
guitar" for the brass band. I listened to the second Coolbone CD and
it sounded more hip-hop than jazzy-funk, unlike the first CD. Their brass-hop
set ended at 10:15pm.
Click here for pictures of Coolbone
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