Gabi Spurlock

Muse250
Brass Artist Research Project
Youngblood Brass Band
Youngblood Brass Band originated in Madison, Wisconsin during the 1990s. Since then, they
have released several albums, and have spread to various locations across the nation. Since the
debut of their first album, they have toured worldwide and performed in 20 different countries.
Although they identify as a brass band, other instruments can be found in some of their
performances such as a drumkit, vocals, saxophone, and occasionally clarinet.
Youngblood Brass Band is a fairly new group. Their music was originally stylistically
New Orleans Jazz, but with the experience and release of each new album their music has shifted
and changed into something very unique. Youngblood Brass Band performs mainly original
compositions and has developed a style which is acceptable in both the world of the band kid,
and the rock kids.
When the group was performing here in America, they would stop in schools to speak on new
orleans jazz and history. Their summary of their sound, found on their website, is:
It is through this work that Youngblood acquired cult status among young musicians.
Perhaps the world secretly desires a music that is intense, danceable, intelligent, and
devoid of the self-consciously vain irony that prevails in most current entertainment
Members of the group include, David Henzie-Skogen, Nat McIntosh, Conor Elmes, Tom
Reschke, Joe Goltz, Matt Hanzelka, Tony Barba, Zach Lucas, Charley Wagner, Adam Meckler,
and Natalie Baker. Of those members, only some are the brass players heard in the majority of
the compositions Youngblood Brass Band performs.

On sousaphone, Nat McIntosh was part of the original group and left the group after their
third album in 2004. Joe Goltz, one of two trombonists, is a member of Youngblood Brass Band,
and a New Orleans jazz group called Mama Digdowns Brass Band since 2001. In his bio, Joe
exclaims he enjoys spending his spare time working with the preschoolers of a local art school.
The other trombonist, Matt Hanzelka has been a member of Youngblood Brass Band since the
beginning and is still an active member of the group. On trumpet, Charley Wagner who has been
a member of Youngblood Brass Band since 95, but also a member of Tonys Castenadas Latin
Jazz septet, Groupo Candela, The Big Payback, and Mama Digdowns Brass Band. Charley has
both a bachelors and masters degree in classical performance and offers private lessons and
coaching to students of all ages and skill. Also on trumpet is Adam Meckler who has played in
Youngblood Brass Band, Nooky Jones, The Jana Nyberg Group, Lulu's Playground, the Jack
Brass Band, and Todd Clouser's A Love Electric. He also plays regularly with The Graydon
Peterson Quartet, The Brass Barn Polka Band, The Good The Bad The Funky and The Pete
Whitman X-Tet. Adam is a performer, composer, and educator.
The group started in the 90s and released their first album, Unlearn, in 2000. The
second album, center: level: roar, was released in 2003. In 2005, Youngblood Brass Band
released their third album, Live. Places.. The next album, released 2006, Is That a Riot?,
followed by the 2008 album, Riot Instrumentals. The last album they released was Pax
Volumi, was released in 2013.

Discography
The following recording can be found on both youtube, and spotify. I have provided a piece from
each different album.
Word on the street: New blood

Unlearn: Bloodshot
Center: Level: Roar: Brooklyn
Live. Places.: Elegy
Is that a Riot?: JEM
Pax Volumi: Aint Nobody

Sources:
http://www.youngbloodbrassband.com/#about
http://www.dallasbrass.com/students/Nat.html
http://www.mamadigdown.com/Joe.html
http://www.trumpetherald.com/registry.php?task=detail&mid=6236
http://www.adammeckler.com/