Big Tuba by Hot 8 Brass Band

New Orleans Grammy winners Hot 8 Brass Band unveil “Big Tuba” in time for their West Coast tour of the same name. This single marks the band’s first new music since 2019, celebrating their love for the late Bennie Pete. The song pays tribute to Bennie, the co-founder and sousaphone player of the band.

“On September 6 2021, we, the Hot 8 Brass Band, lost our beloved bandleader, Bennie Pete. He was more than just our leader; he was a constant galvanising force within our own family of fellow musicians and beyond. Bennie was a rock in our lives. Yes, he was a leader, a teacher, and a mentor. More than that, Bennie was an inspiration to our band and to many other musicians, and the entire musical and cultural community. He helped each and every one of us, from our horn players to the folks dancing in the second lines and to the entire New Orleans community, during the most difficult and darkest times. Bennie helped all of us endure, to heal by encouraging us to continue to play our music despite any adversities.”

The track remembers Bennie Pete with the chorus, “We love you big tuba, and we miss you big tuba, won’t forget you big tuba”. As always, through the track, the Hot 8 Brass Band channel the unique, undiluted energy of the Second Line parades in New Orleans.

The release coincides with the start of their Big Tuba tour across the West Coast, following the success of their ‘Bossman Tour’ (2023), ‘Mardi Gras’ (2020) and ‘Take Cover’ (2019) tours, which boasted sell-out dates, including London’s Roundhouse and Brighton Dome.

Drawing on the traditional jazz heritage of their hometown of New Orleans, Hot 8 Brass Band are renowned for including elements of funk, hip hop, rap and its local variation, “bounce”, in their music. The collective earned a win in the 64th Annual Grammy Awards 2022 for their feature on John Batiste’s ‘Album of The Year', following the nomination of their ‘The Life & Times Of…’ LP for ‘Best Regional Roots Album’ in 2013.

Transcending genres and trends, Hot 8 have performed and collaborated with the likes of Jon Batiste, The Blind Boys of Alabama, Basement Jaxx and Alice Russell, and provided live support for Mos Def, Lauryn Hill and Mary J Blige. Since forming they have seen significant support from tastemakers and journalists around the world, including BBC 6 Music DJ Craig Charles, a long-time fan. After a festive appearance Live at Maida Vale for Lauren Laverne (BBC 6 Music), the Hot 8 Brass Band performed for Jools Holland's annual Hootenanny on BBC Two to welcome in 2019. Later that year, after taking to the stage at the BRIT awards in February, Hot 8 Brass Band were invited on the European leg of George Ezra’s tour. In 2023, the Hot 8 Brass Band also performed with Jon Batiste at the Gates Foundation Goalkeepers Festival and played dates in South America at Festival Petronio Álvarez and in Australia at both Perth International and Melbourne Jazz Festival.

Hot 8 Brass Band bring passion and noise through a bevy of trombones, saxophones, trumpets, snare and bass drums, all buoyed up by the immense tuba basslines of band leader Bennie Pete. These musicians over the years have been inspired by artists such as Tuba Fats, Leroy Jones, Louis Armstrong, JJ Johnson, Stevie Wonder and Jackie McLean.