To Be Continued Brass Band, also known as TBC, is a jazz band formed in 2002 by young men who grew up in the 7th and 9th Wards in New Orleans, Louisiana. They sought to avoid the life that befell many of their friends and classmates involving drugs and violence by creating a jazz and brass band. The band started at Carver Senior High School in New Orleans where the band's eventual leader and tuba player, Jason Slack, borrowed instruments from Carver's band director. The band received permission from Carver's principal to play a set on the school grounds. The school's reaction simply was "wow," and the TBC Brass Band was on its way.
With no manager and no guaranteed gigs, the band began performing on the streets of New Orleans, establishing a regular presence on the legendary corner of Bourbon and Canal in the French Quarter. The band quickly became popular with hordes of fans flocking regularly to dance with the group on their established street corner stage.
In early 2005, Grammy-Award winning hip-hop group The Roots learned of TBC and took the band under its wing, inviting TBC to play with them in concert.
In the summer of 2005, The Roots began working with TBC. The Roots' Questlove Thompson stated that TBC's "music was extremely impressive". According to Thompson, TBC "took us back to our roots working out on South Street at Passyunk [in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania], when we were praying that somebody like a Kenny Gamble would come along to discover us."
In August 2005, Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, destroying the band’s homes and instruments and scattering them throughout the U.S. Six months later, band members returned to New Orleans, renting hotel rooms with money made performing on the streets just to be able and to be together again playing music in their hometown. A feature-length documentary movie about the band was produced entitled ‘From the Mouthpiece on Back’. The hip hop group ‘The Roots’ are co-executive producers and award-winning actress Kerry Washington narrates the movie. The American Film Institute has called the movie "inspiring,", and other reviewers have deemed the movie "incredible,” and described its teenage jazz musician subjects as “charming as hell, funny, . . . and take everything that’s thrown at them with unimaginable spirit and focus.”
Today, TBC continues to play its amazing music in New Orleans as well as touring internationally. TBC music is spreading globally, delighting fans with their unique melodic brand of brass jazz music. In addition, TBC is one of the top requested bands in the time-honored New Orleans tradition known as "the second line". The band has become a staple on the second line parade scene, leading hundreds of dancing paraders through the streets on any given Sunday in this only-in-New Orleans tradition.
With no manager and no guaranteed gigs, the band began performing on the streets of New Orleans, establishing a regular presence on the legendary corner of Bourbon and Canal in the French Quarter. The band quickly became popular with hordes of fans flocking regularly to dance with the group on their established street corner stage.
In early 2005, Grammy-Award winning hip-hop group The Roots learned of TBC and took the band under its wing, inviting TBC to play with them in concert.
In the summer of 2005, The Roots began working with TBC. The Roots' Questlove Thompson stated that TBC's "music was extremely impressive". According to Thompson, TBC "took us back to our roots working out on South Street at Passyunk [in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania], when we were praying that somebody like a Kenny Gamble would come along to discover us."
In August 2005, Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, destroying the band’s homes and instruments and scattering them throughout the U.S. Six months later, band members returned to New Orleans, renting hotel rooms with money made performing on the streets just to be able and to be together again playing music in their hometown. A feature-length documentary movie about the band was produced entitled ‘From the Mouthpiece on Back’. The hip hop group ‘The Roots’ are co-executive producers and award-winning actress Kerry Washington narrates the movie. The American Film Institute has called the movie "inspiring,", and other reviewers have deemed the movie "incredible,” and described its teenage jazz musician subjects as “charming as hell, funny, . . . and take everything that’s thrown at them with unimaginable spirit and focus.”
Today, TBC continues to play its amazing music in New Orleans as well as touring internationally. TBC music is spreading globally, delighting fans with their unique melodic brand of brass jazz music. In addition, TBC is one of the top requested bands in the time-honored New Orleans tradition known as "the second line". The band has become a staple on the second line parade scene, leading hundreds of dancing paraders through the streets on any given Sunday in this only-in-New Orleans tradition.
