Great Lakes Brass

Inspired by New Orleans
Born of the great Lakes

Great Lakes Brass is available for performances of all kinds.  We play stage sets, parades, community, celebrations, and private events. We are happy to shape our approach to fit the moment.  Great Lakes Brass ranges from five to eight players or more.  We can perform out “in the wild” without any electricity or stage support, and we’re equally comfortable in an amplified setting, on stages big and small.

Inspired by New Orleans – Born of the Great Lakes; we celebrate the culture and traditions of New Orleans, with an emphasis on the styles and sounds of brass bands and second lines.  We play traditional songs that are part of the origin story of jazz, blues, and funk.  We also take some cues from contemporary brass band culture, riffing on popular and original music through our funky, New Orleans & Michigan lens. Reverence for history is intertwined with ongoing creative adaptation, and our pledge to play it forward.

Trumpet, trombone, and saxophone play familiar melodies driven by sousaphone and percussion. On the street or the stage, the music moves.  Great Lakes Brass features a lineup of remarkable Michigan musicians, led by Fred Bueltmann (Sousaphone), including Josh Keller (Trumpet), Jarad Saxsquatch Selner (Saxophone), Scott Dumas (Trombone), Dede Alder (Drums), Carolyn Koebel (Drums), Andrew Schrock (Vocals) and many others.

Drop us a line at [email protected] to start a conversation about your event.  You can download a stage plot to review three common ways we set up a stage.  Cheers!