SOUNDZZ Familienkonzert: Harmony's Brass Band

In the organizer's words:

We start SOUNDZZ in February with African sounds and the brilliant brass band from Benin in the tradition of West African rail bands! Wow!

Harmony's Brass Band was founded in Porto-Novo in 2016 on the initiative of Florentin Koudjou. This is the second largest city in Benin and a port city on the border with Nigeria. Since then, the seven young and dynamic musicians have been working under his direction to join a great musical tradition in West Africa:

In addition to traditional African wind orchestras such as pipe and flute orchestras, horn and trumpet orchestras, there were already African brass orchestras in the British, French and Spanish colonies in the 18th century. The continuity of African brass band traditions then continued in urban Africa with township music in South Africa or the rail bands in West Africa. The Malian "Super Rail Band of the Buffet Hotel de la Gare" or "Bamako Rail Band" was certainly the most legendary orchestra in the service of the railroad companies. The house band of the café at Bamako station became internationally famous in the 1970s. It was the first band to combine brass instruments, New Orleans street band jazz and Afro-Cuban rhythms with traditional West African styles. It produced several musicians with successful solo careers, such as Salif Keita and Mory Kanté. The collective played five nights a week from two in the afternoon until the early hours of the morning, mainly to an audience of business people, local youth and people looking for a fun night out. It became an integral part of Mali's nightlife and a role model for many brass bands in West Africa.

After successful concerts in Benin and other West African regions, Harmony's Brass Band has already played at international festivals in France, Spain and Holland since 2021, including Jazz à Vienne, Afrika Festival Hertme, Cuivres en Dombes, Chateau du Rozier, Bandafolie's and Haitzetara - International Competition for Brass Bands and Bandas, where they won the audience award.

The repertoire of Harmony's Brass Band is mainly influenced by the traditional music of Benin - the songs and typical rhythms. But elements of jazz and brass bands from New Orleans have also enriched the sound and harmonies of the brass players. In addition to traditional pieces, they play their own original compositions. In 2020, the band released their first mini-album "Ewlizo".

In 2021, the band founded the non-profit association "ASSOCIATION HARMONY'S BRASS BAND" to promote artistic and cultural development in Benin. Since then, they have been supporting cultural exchange, encounters and cooperation between different players in music, musical training for musicians and artists, promoting creativity and originality in musical compositions and music lessons in Beninese music. It is important to Harmony's Brass Band Association that all activities are open to any person - regardless of gender, nationality, race, ethnicity, religion, social or political affiliation - who wishes to contribute to the realization of its objectives.

Duration of the concert: approx. 60 minutes.

Price information:

Children 5€, adults 10€