The Zebra Street Band creates a highly energetic music that is both artistic and infectiously danceable.
Myriad styles melt together into a repertoire that echoes Africa and the Caribbeans as well as jazz and breakbeat.
Moments of groove alternating with floating textures and collective improvisations.
Every member of the band is a strong soloist and improviser and this allows the music to come out fresh and new with each performance. No piece is played the same way twice.
The band has released two acclaimed albums (ZeBrass, 2018 and Shirwku, 2022). A celebratory street band on the surface, but far too experimental to be pinned down their collective improvisations and irresistible grooves are guaranteed to get every crowd moving.
Band members:
Salvoandrea Lucifora – Trombone, Tuba, Compositions
Alistair Payne – Trumpet
Giuseppe Doronzo - Barione Saxophone/ Bass Clarinet
John Dikeman – Tenor/Bass Saxophone
Onno Govaert – Snare drum and percussion
Fabio Galeazzi – Bass drum and percussion
Releases
SHIRWKU – AUGUST 2022
ZeBrass – September 2018
Videos
SHIRWKU review by Herman the Loo
‘Shirwku’ is the second album by the Amsterdam-based (but internationally occupied) Zebra Street Band, which is led by Italian brass player Salvoandrea Lucifora. Although the sextet can actually be heard regularly in the open air, the group is certainly not a standard brass band. Its artistic and creative aspirations and talents are too great for that. Nevertheless, Lucifora has forged his band into a tight unit, so that danceability is always guaranteed. In doing so, he draws in his compositions from traditions where wind orchestras on the streets can add to the revelry. We hear African rhythms, Balkan arrangements and also New Orleans-style funk. And of course the composer also looks at the music from his homeland with a slanted eye. After all, “White stones” sounds very Italian – Fellini’s resident composer Nino Rota would certainly not have been ashamed of it. With John Dikeman’s growling baritone saxophone and occasionally his own tuba, plus two percussionists (Fabio Galazzi and Onno Govaert), an unshakable foundation is laid that is perfectly at home both in intricate time signatures (with creative breaks) and unctuous grooves. And, of course, the soloistic ability of this gem of the Am- sterdam improv scene is also in order.
Other reviews
Shirwku reviews
https://www.jazzword.com/reviews/antti-lotjonen-quintet-east/
https://ilmanifesto.it/gli-ultrasuonati-35
https://tomhull.com/ocston/blog/archives/3081-Music-Week.html
ZeBrass REviews
https://www.jazzhalo.be/reviews/cdlpk7-reviews/z/zebra-street-band-zebrass/