Four Star Brass Band
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Four Star Brass Band

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Our first single Radio will be released very soon along with two other Tunes
For Music please go to www.fourstarbrassband.com

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Tradition of Brass Band, Four Star looks forward to spreading the word. Brass Bands originated in New Orleans just like Jazz. Slaves were given the opportunity to learn music one day a week usually Sunday. This took place in Conga Square modern day Louis Armstrong Park, across the street from Dona’s Brass Band Head Quarters. Now these slaves were given freedom if they fought for the Union Army during the Civil War, so they did the instruments they played were army band instruments this is why we use the instruments we use. Treme Brass Band was a neighborhood brass band and was one if not the first to start this brass band movement, one of the awesome things these bands did were BRASS BAND FUNERALS. This is when you play the slow dirges going to the funeral site and upbeat music coming back (to celebrate the one’s life). The kids would then read about these in the papers and on the upbeat stuff would dance behind the band, doing the “Second Line”. You can still catch these people Second Lining today most likely on Sunday grab a paper and see where they start. In 1983 a Brass Band named REBIRTH started the modern day version of this and FOUR STAR BRASS BAND looks forward to continuing this movement. This is the music of the future.
Dave "Tookie" E, Four Stars Sousaphonist and Leader, a native of Somerset Pa (6o miles east of Pittsburgh, Pa), Dave spent most of his childhood runnin' with the wrong crowd. He's been performing music since age 11 in concert halls, shopping malls, frat parties and clubs. In 2008, Jay bailed Dave out of jail (on a whim, didn't really know him) and after a cup of coffee ; they decided to bring the hundred-year brass band tradition to the Chicago as The Four Star Brass Band. As charming as Dave is, he's much better known for Passing gas, and eating very greasy burgers. Overall, folks put up with his antics because 'people like what they like 'cause that's what they like' (or they just feel sorry for him). Presently he spends his days in Chicago IL living as a band director. Jay St. Germain, 4 stars tenor saxophonist was born and raised in rural Rhode Island, living on canned beans and southern rock played on flatbed trailers accompanying pig roasts. Jay jammed throughout little Rhodey till making his way to Boston where he attended Berklee College of Music. Resisting all temptation to drop out and follow the crowds, Jay stayed and achieved his Bachelors in Music Performance. After attempting to drink the city dry of all Miller High Life he came to his senses and attempted to move to Nashville. But as fate would have it, a very feral and fat man attacked him and his leg was shattered. Jay still drove two days to Tennessee; only thinking it was a sprain. After a month on a friends couch Jay made the move to Chicago. Work has been nonstop and he can’t enjoy life anymore. Jay joined the 4 Star at a Steelers bar playing polka and pep band music. By the end of the season the 4 Star ball was rolling. After some much needed personal adjustments the 4 Star is at the peak of their performance as you read this. Power of the horns baby. Matthew Davis, Four Stars Trombonist, was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay area. He studied trombone at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, under the direction of Associate Professor of Jazz Trombone Robin Eubanks and Professor of Trombone James DeSano. He has toured around the U.S. and Europe, and has shared the stage with some great artists such as Marcus Roberts, Michael Franti, Ras Midas, Marcus Belgrave and Bright black Morning Light. He is well versed in many styles of music, and is always looking to expand his horizon. Nils, one of Chicago’s fastest rising young talents, Nils has played to standing ovations at the Chicago Jazz Festival, the Taste of Chicago, and the 2007 IAJE festival in New York City. While he specializes in jazz and improvised music, Nils’ diverse musical tastes have taken him to many different musical situations and a vast assortment of percussion instruments. He has been heard playing small group jazz at Andy’s Jazz Club, Korean folk music at the Daley Center, and tone poems at Orchestra Hall. His jazz playing has awarded him opportunities to play with Willie Pickens, Eric Schneider and Tracy Kirk, some of Chicago’s top musicians. As an educator, Nils teaches private lessons and directs the percussion ensemble at Riverside-Brookfield high school where his students were awarded a division-one rating for their performance of Steve Reich’s “Clapping Music”. He has taught privately for the last six years. An enthusiastic educator, Nils strongly believes in not merely helping his students play their instruments, but in forging successful life skills such as discipline, work ethic, and positive character. Nils earned his Bachelor’s of Music Degree from the Chicago College of Performing Arts where he studied jazz, world, and classical percussion.
Steven Levin, For Stars Trumpeter, is from the Chicago area and loves everything about