by Leo Stanley
Perhaps it's not surprising that a New Orleans musical collective would latch onto the idea of fusing a brass band with hip-hop, but Coolbone's debut album Brass-Hop is startling nevertheless. Using gritty New Orleans R&B, jazz and funk as a foundation, the group works elements of urban soul and hip-hop into their music, creating a truly eclectic and infectious album. Theoretically, such juxtapositions shouldn't work, and occasionally the group don't quite fulfill their ambitions, but at its best, Coolbone is utterly modern, creative and funky soul.