Although a sousaphone and a marching snare drum are part of the Funky Butt Brass Band experience, the local sextet is well versed in all things funk. Its razor-sharp horn section blasts out the sort of punchy stabs that have made thousands of white people dance to Tower of Power, while its unhinged rhythm section recalls the greasy funk that drips from fingers and collects in the gutters of New Orleans. But stellar musicianship and dedication to the craft aren't the band's only strengths — more important, the act showcases the playful side missing from many uptight jazz enthusiasts. After all, it maintains enough of a sense of humor to put the word "butt" in its name.
