Raging Brass is a 7-piece band collectively creating Afro-Caribbean music. We are a brass-roots dance band following the musical migration from West Africa to Cuba, Jamaica, and Brazil with the spirit of New Orleans.This eclectic group was established in 2014 by trumpeter and bandleader Marc Chillemi in Southern Maine. Raging Brass explores roots music fueled by the rhythmic and melodic intuition of each player in the styles of Afro-Beat, Ska, Soukous, Highlife, Rocksteady, Roots Reggae, Samba, Cumbia, and Salsa.Raging Brass features saxophonists Mike Ayotte and Kyle Hardy, trombonist Dave Noyes, tubist Rafael Kielt-Fryre, guitarist and vocalist Matt Wasowski, drummer Gary Gemmiti, and Marc Chillemi, arranger/composer and trumpet player.
These hand-picked musicians also perform with some of Portland’s finest bands, including Rustic Overtones, Fogcutters, Primo Cubano, Sly Chi, and Maine Marimba Ensemble.This all-star group has shared the stage with major recording artists such as Dirty Dozen Brass Band, John Brown’s Body, G. Love & Special Sauce, Red Baraat, and John Popper from Blues Traveler. Extended band members saxophonists Kate Campbell-Strauss, Barry Saunders, and Timo Shanko, trombonist Eric Ambrose, and trumpet players Mark Berney and Emma Stanley. For more info please visit: ragingbrass.com
