The Hypnotic Brass Ensemble seems to live up to its name. This eight-piece band of street performers, seven of whom are the sons of the Sun Ra Arkestra trumpeter Kelan Phil Cohran, recently relocated from the South Side of Chicago to Queens. The young players perform daily outdoors and underground, most often in Union Square, Times Square and Columbus Circle.
Their syncopated, often lyrical tone — incorporating jazz, funk, soul and hip-hop — is produced by horns that now look like world-worn hand-me-downs. Still, the instruments do the job,...
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