Brotherhood of Groove

The Brotherhood of Groove is a high-energy band that has elevated the New Orleans Funk sound to a new level of creativity. The BOG's unique style fuses soulful New Orleans brass band vocals with old school funk, rock, reggae, and modern and traditional jazz. In just four years, the BOG has developed a complex repertoire that has generated a loyal national fan base. Their albums, Pocket Full of Funk and BOG Style, the extensive list of collaborating master musicians, and the band's full time coast-to-coast touring have all contributed to their well-deserved success.

Rarely in the music world has a bandleader arrived on the scene as talented and focused as guitarist/singer/songwriter Brandon Tarricone. Voted among the top ten guitarists by the 2001 Jambase reader's poll, Tarricone's creative songwriting and arrangements have attracted some of the country's best musicians eager to collaborate with him. His complex harmonic chord work, virtuoso fingering and soulful touch?combined with his intense on-stage energy?make people rise-up and dance for hours on a nightly basis.

During the past year, the band has brought in Producer/Sax player Jeff Watkins, known for his lead Tenor playing with the James Brown Band for the last 13 years, to tighten the sound to the point of perfection. The Rhythm section is led by Stewart McKinsey's thumping 8 and 10 string bass work, combined with Jon Massing's masterful New Orleans style, funk drumming, all of which makes even tame audiences rise and dance. A celebrated horn section led by Geoff Vidal includes several saxophones, as well as flute, to create a diverse symphonic sound.

The Brotherhood's communal musicianship has allowed the band to collaborate with and incorporate a number of amazing players into their performances in New Orleans and on tour throughout the U.S. The Brotherhood's unique sound has been enhanced by horn masters: Michael Ray (trumpet, Phish/Sun Ra/Kool and the Gang), John Ellis (sax, Charlie Hunter Quartet), Henley Douglas, Jr. (sax, Heavy Metal Horns/Boston Horns), Michael Tucker (sax, Pat Metheny, Head Shaft), Dave Grippo (sax, Giant Country Horns, Phish), Eric Traub (sax, Dr. John), John Stewart (sax, The Motet), Sam Kininger (sax, Soulive, Lettuce) are just a few of the chosen ones who rotate within the Brotherhood's horn section.

The band has maintained balance by recording their first album, Pocket Full of Funk, at Ultrasonic Studios, New Orleans, with mastering by Mark Wilder (Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock) at Sony Studios, New York. Released in January 2002, Pocket Full of Funk was voted among the top ten albums of 2002 by Gambit Weekly (January, 2003) and garnered many great reviews across the country including helping the band receive recognition as the Best Emerging Funk/Soul/R&B band at the Offbeat Awards in 2003.

The newest album, BOG Style features an amazing horn section with Jeff Watkins (James Brown Band), Sam Kininger (Soulive), Jeff Vidal, Steve Bernstein (Sex Mob), Henley Douglas Jr, (Boston Horns), and guests Ivan Neville (Neville Brothers), and Marco Benevento (the Duo) on keys, among others. Just released, BOG Style has taken the Brotherhood to yet another level of musicianship and foretells the band's likely success as one of the next, major national touring acts. So, join the Brotherhood experience now.