In a state full of brass bands, it can be hard to stand out, but the Michael Foster Project manages to shine.
John Gray, lead trumpet player for the Project, said “we can easily set ourselves apart” by having a diverse music repertoire.Gray said their music encompasses hip hop, R&B, Zydeco, traditional brass band music, modern street brass band funk tunes, jazz and original music.While having so many bands in the same genre can be a challenge, the Michael Foster Project appreciates the competition.”If you’ve got one group that’s right down the street doing the same thing that you’re doing, it kind of forces you to start thinking of some new things to do,” Gray said. “You really have to push each other.”The diversity that keeps them separate from the other local bands also helps to attract a unique crowd to their shows. The audience ranges from college students to older couples every Wednesday night at Chelsea’s Café.Another difficulty the band faces is trying to take advantage of all the opportunities they are presented with in the limited time they have.”Many of us carry on more than one career outside of music,” said Gray, who is also a band and jazz band director at Denham Springs Middle School.Many of the band members also have families, so finding time to rehearse and come up with new music is difficult.”It’s a reoccurring challenge,” Gray said. “We just deal with it as it goes.”Michael Hayes, music education junior and Tiger Band member who also plays with the Project, knows all about the challenge of time. But he said it is worth it. He said he loves the unique sound of the music and “the chemistry with the guys on stage.”Michael Foster, the sousaphone player, founded the band in the late ‘80s at Southern University. He met Gray when he was pledging to a fraternity and Foster became his big brother.”We met at the department of music and in the Phi Mu Alpha music fraternity,” Foster said in an interview with Continuum Music. The camaraderie between the musicians helps to create an atmosphere that intrigues people.”I love the music of the Michael Foster Project and the vibe of going to a show,” said Ariana Wehr, vocal performance sophomore. She said everyone who is there is relaxed and just wants to have a good evening.James Rosenbloom, cello performance sophomore, also loves the atmosphere at Chelsea’s when the Project plays.”You can relax to it, and you can get absolutely silly with it,” Rosenbloom said.He said even with a busy schedule, he purposely sets aside time to see the Project play.”It’s what keeps me healthy,” Rosenbloom said.The acquaintances Foster made at Southern helped him create the first Michael Foster Project. Over the years, the lineup has changed, always adding new and fresh talent.The lineup currently features Foster, Gray, Chris “The Cat” Lee, Terrance Taplin, Rod Jackson, Steve Lands, Chancelier “Xero” Skidmore and Hayes.The Michael Foster Project has two CDs out, “Kick Some Brass” and “Weapons of Brass Destruction,” and is currently in the process of recording a third.The band is also trying to do more touring and “playing on a more regional level” but will continue their weekly shows at Chelsea’s Café, according to Gray.—-Contact Catie Vogels at [email protected]