Rise Up by MarchFourth

The Band's first studio album, Rise Up captures the high energy of the live big band experience, while bringing special studio-only features like guest vocalists. The best yet, MarchFourth brings you a vibrant and eclectic mix of the unexpected in a marching band.

"With circus motifs, musical diversity and the do-it-yourself ethic, M4 and France’s Lo’Jo would get on famously." -World Music Central

"It's a big sound, but the disc is clear as a bell so you hear baritone sax or trumpet soloing against the tight sheen of sound. " -Muzikifan

"A parading celebration of good jamming music and whimsical characters make this ensemble a unique act to see. Originally from Portland, MarchFourth Marching Band started to gain momentum as a novelty act and has quickly filled their calendar with dates around the country." -Envy Magazine

"You can pretty much forget everything you think you know about how a marching band should sound, look and behave. This sizable crew out of Portland, Oregon marches to the beat of their own drum. A lot of drums and percussion, actually. Plus a lot of horns, some bass and a whole lot of globally inspired lunacy. And their live performances reportedly include elaborate costumes (uniforms that are anything but uniform, if you will), equally rule-free choreography, stilt walkers and general goings-on that blur the line between mapped out and spontaneous. Of course, none of that would mean a thing if MarchFourth Marching Band (M.F.M.B.) didn't make worthwhile music. But their music is that and then some, stepping easily between New Orleans party flavors (did I mention that the group first came about at a Fat Tuesday celebration?), flights of jazzy fancy, Afrobeat-like militancy, Balkan tradition, a dose of swing, south-of-the-border whimsy that Herb Alpert wouldn t attempt on his best day and, well, let's just say that bandleader John Averill (who, on electric bass, is the only plugged-in player to be heard) apparently wasn't kidding when he stated the band's goal was to cover every possible genre of music in the world. Fair enough. It may take them another release or two to cover the ground they've skipped here, but given the versatility, skill, infectiousness and sheer strength of numbers they've got on their side, they're certainly well on their way." -Worldmusiccentral.org

"Formed for a Fat Tuesday party years back, the MarchFourth band leaders quickly realized that they had something on their hands. Involving up to 25 members at any time, they went from block parties to the Hollywood Bowl, taking the next step by releasing this excellent debut. Referencing Coolio and the Balkans, the band's intention is to make partygoers of many musical tastes converge and dance, something that often happens when a brass band hits the unknowing passerby. Rise Up certainly hits, with its exceptional production- the low end and the percussion are perfectly placed. As invigorating as these part-time musicians can be, their brilliance truly shines on the soulful "Gospel". Donating portions of proceeds to Sweet Home New Orleans, their social consciousness merges with their instrumental prowess in a moving and inspired outing." -Relix Magazine

[BRASS N BALLS] Some great live bands just can't seem to capture their in-person energy on disc. You have to see 'em live, we tell friends, apologetically, when the CD doesn't bring it. I was afraid that would happen with MarchFourth, whose joyous performances owe so much to the visual and visceral impact of so many big-horn toters and percussionists having so much fun, marching into the audience and throwing down. That ambience is notoriously hard to capture on a recording, as even masters like the Dirty Dozen Brass Band have discovered. Of course, no CD could quite encode all of March's costumed energy much less its flag-twirlers, stilt-walkers, unicycles, fire eaters, puppets and other accomplices in little digital bytes. But Rise Up comes a lot closer than any of us had any right to expect. Sounding tighter than ever, the two- or three-dozen member collective has miraculously managed to channel its raucous sweat, swing and swagger for home and headphone. Newbies can enjoy this party-ready record for its own sake instead of just as a pale souvenir of a full color concert. The disk presents almost the full range of M4's diverse sounds Mexican brass band (Contada Ridiculata), odd-meter Balkan party gypsies (Simplon Cocek), throwback Latin big-band jazz (Dynomite), classic funk (Freestyle for Miles, which owes as much to James Brown as to its namesake), New Orleans second line (Ninth Ward Calling), gospel rave up (Gospel) and unclassifiable hybrids. If Herb Alpert were still running the Tijuana Brass, Happiness would be the perfect cover. Some proceeds from Rise Up go to Sweet Home New Orleans, a nonprofit organization that helps the damaged Crescent City's music and cultural institutions recover from Katrina's helluva Bush-whacking job. Fresh as Rise Up sounds, there s no substitute for the full MarchFourth live experience lucky for us, the band plays this week. -Willamette Week Online

MarchFourth (from Portland, OR) is a joy-inducing force of entertainment. This colorful explosion of brassy funk, rock, and jazz emanates from musicians, acrobats, stilters and more, touring the country year-round, taking audiences on a booty-shaking, soul-stirring journey that defies categorization.

marchfourthband.com
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