Celebrating over 45 years since their founding in 1977, the GRAMMY Award-winning New Orleans-based Dirty Dozen Brass Band has taken the traditional foundation of brass band music and incorporated it into a blend of genres, including bebop jazz, funk and R&B/soul. This unique sound, described by the band as a “musical gumbo”, has allowed the Dirty Dozen to tour across five continents and more than thirty countries, record twelve studio albums and collaborate with a range of artists from Modest Mouse to Widespread Panic to Norah Jones. Forty-five plus years later, the Dirty Dozen Brass Band is a world-famous music machine whose name is synonymous with genre-bending romps and high-octane performances.

Roger Lewis - Baritone Sax/Vocals
Gregory Davis - Trumpet/Vocals
Kirk Joseph - Sousaphone
Trevarri Huff-Boone - Tenor Sax/Vocals
Stephen Walker - Trombone/Vocals
Julian Addison - Drums
Takeshi Shimmura - Guitar


THE HISTORY OF THE DIRTY DOZEN BRASS BAND:

In 1977, The Dirty Dozen Social Aid and Pleasure Club in New Orleans began showcasing a traditional Crescent City brass band. It was a joining of two proud, but antiquated, traditions at the time: social aid and pleasure clubs dated back over a century to a time when black southerners could rarely afford life insurance, and the clubs would provide proper funeral arrangements. Brass bands, early predecessors of jazz as we know it, would often follow the funeral procession playing somber dirges, then once the family of the deceased was out of earshot, burst into jubilant dance tunes as casual onlookers danced in the streets. By the late '70s, few of either existed. The Dirty Dozen Social Aid and Pleasure Club decided to assemble this group as a house band, and over the course of these early gigs, the seven-member ensemble adopted the venue's name: The Dirty Dozen Brass Band.

Zahria Sims is a young saxophonist, composer, recording artist and bandleader who discovered her love for music at an early age. Zahria’s love for music and songwriting is a reflection of her upbringing; both her parents are musicians well versed in the gospel genre.

Zahria is a native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and she is now based in New Orleans, Louisiana. She has immersed herself in the rich culture and musical heritage of the city and is excited about the future of its musical climate and how she will take part in that story.

Zahria graduated from Loyola University New Orleans with a degree in Music Industries. At Loyola, she participated in the Jazz Band, Contemporary Ensemble, and Concert Band. She has performed at major events and festivals such as New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, the National Fried Chicken Festival, Gentilly Fest and performs a weekly residency at the Jazz Playhouse with a local band, Big Sam’s Funky Nation.

Zahria founded The Zahria Sims Collective in 2019, an ensemble that focuses on Black American Music, which incorporates aspects traditionally associated with Jazz, Funk, Soul, and R&B. They play regularly in the Greater New Orleans area and are preparing to release their debut album. Sims leads her band while recording and performing with various bands as a freelance saxophonist throughout New Orleans and surrounding areas.

Zahria has opened up for artists such as Kenny Garrett, Arturo Sandaval, and has performed and been mentored by artists like Wessell “Warmdaddy” Anderson, and Emmy and Grammy award-winner Michael Esneault and performed with the likes of Matt Wilson, Camille Thurman, Tia Fuller, Quiana Lynell and many more. Zahria was selected and performed as a member of the 2020 JEN Conference “Sisters in Jazz” Collegiate Combo, under the leadership of Tia Fuller. Sims recently completed a 10-day tour in Israel which she considered an impromptu blessing and an opportunity of lifetime.

Sims serves as an assistant instructor at the Birch Creek Performing Arts Center in Door County, Wisconsin for their Jazz Summer Workshop. As an artist, performer, composer, educator, and band leader, Zahria is fulfilling her dream and purpose spreading joy, love, and peace through music.