The Alpha Brass Band, above, will perform at 7 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 4, at the Bainbridge Town Hall Theatre.(Submitted photo)

BAINBRIDGE - The Alpha Brass Band will perform at 7 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 4, at the Bainbridge Town Hall Theatre.

Alpha Brass is a fierce, funky, bodacious band from Binghamton, NY that plays New Orleans style brass band music  from the likes of Rebirth, Dirty Dozen, Dr John, Maceo Parker, the Meters, and more. They play blues, funk, trad, world music, originals, and diva tunes from Chaka, Sia, Adele.

The Alpha Brass brings a soulful good time to the neighborhood, having done parades, clubs, block parties, street gigs, guerilla bar runs, even traditional New Orleans funerals. People really dig the music and the vibe. Members of the Alpha Brass Band are Rob Weinberger, Vic Merrill, Sarah Walker, Keith Alcius, Eric Peters, and Rob Cotten. 

Rob Weinberger (sax, vocals, keys) is an eclectic creative musician. Rob has performed on 5 continents during the past 50 years. Rob has played with people as diverse as modern dancer Bill T Jones, jazz guitarist Larry Coryell, Saturday Night Live band members, singer Joan Osborne, and Blues Traveler artist John Popper. Rob moved to the Southern Tier from NYC in 1995, and as a freelancer has performed with more than 50 acts and recorded CDs with 20 since then. As a multi-instrumentalist, Rob created a number of notable regional acts, including Alpha Brass Band (NOLA), UnityGroup (world fusion), Salsa Libre (Latin dance music) and Nexus (intimate jazz). Rob has been a teaching artist for Arts in Education, and four years ago he created a community music series, Music in the Glen, that has presented 85 concerts at Glendale Park, Endicott. He formed Alpha Brass Band some 10 years ago to meet a demand for flavorful, fun-filled, dynamic New Orleans based music.

Rob Cotton (drums) marched with Pipe and Drum bands, played with Cindy Wilson of the B52s and the Clash, and performed many alternative rock shows at CBGB night club in NYC, the cutting edge of new music in the 1970s and 80s. He also spent some time with Olatunji, the great West African drummer who introduced much of his region’s music to America.

Eric Peters (drums) has had the privilege of performing and recording with countless musicians, including jazz artists Dena DeRose, Steve Davis, Harold Mabern, and Ratzo Harris. Eric is equally experienced as a rock drummer, having recorded and performed with rock artists The Erics, The Swimmies, Ornamental, The Gabis Brothers, Hip Pocket, and Jamie Willard. Eric has also performed with numerous Irish and Irish American Artists. Eric currently teaches privately and leads a jazz trio.

Keith Alcius (sousaphone) holds a Master of Music in Tuba Performance from New England Conservatory. His career has included performing with Akron Symphony Orchestra, Hot Tamale Brass Band and Binghamton Philharmonic Orchestra. He was a finalist in the Leonard Falcone International Tuba and Euphonium Festival. He has been an associate member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago and a part of the Miami Music Festival. Currently, he is an active freelance musician based in the Southern Tier.

Vic Merrill (trumpet, vocals) is a graduate of the Navy, Army, Marine Corps School of Music. Vic has performed for 3 former presidents, and toured southern states with the O Kaysions together with Wayne Pittman (I'm a Girl Watcher). Vic relocated back to the Southern Tier about 25 years ago, where he has been in demand as a session and club player with many different acts.

Sarah Walker (trombone), the newest member of the band, sharpened her jazz, concert, and marching band skills at Pocono Mountain and the famed Indiana University at Pennsylvania bands. She studied privately with New Orleans native Alex Watkins. Sarah was affiliated with the Delaware Water gap Celebration of the Arts in 1997with the legendary University of Indiana at Pennsylvania marching band. She has a punchy improvisational style that reminds us of Fred Wesley and the JB Horns.

“This program is made possible with public funds from the Statewide Community Regrants program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the  Governor and the New York State Legislature, and administered by The Earlville Opera House.'

Doors open at 6 pm and all performances are open seating. Tickets are available at the door or you may reserve a ticket ahead by calling 607-288-3882.

For further information or to see future events visit www.jerichoarts.com. In the art gallery that evening the exhibit will be “Collages and Clocks” The gallery is open at 6 pm before the show through intermission and is free to the public.

- Bainbridge Town Hall Theatre