What led to the creation of Flat Cap Brass (FCB)?
Reevell: Greenhead is a large college of around 2,500 students, with an amazing musical culture that is testament to both the strong musical heritage in the Kirklees and West Yorkshire area, and the work of our local music hub, Musica Kirklees.
Jacobs: We initially reached out to colleagues and people we had previously worked with and found there were a number of West Yorkshire musicians and music teachers who were interested in the idea of a New Orleans brass band with a Yorkshire twist. At our first rehearsal, the decision was made that flat caps were the way forward…
What instruments can be heard at an FCB performance?
Reevell: Our full seven-piece line-up features two trumpets, trombone, bass trombone, sousaphone and saxophone with drum kit/percussion. The acoustic nature of the band has meant that many of our gigs have been outside, but we also perform in various other combinations, including with a vocalist and with a keyboard, depending on the situation.
What is it about funk that you enjoy?
Jacobs: Our full billing lists us as funky, poppy, drum and brass, which just about sums it up. We love playing covers that people enjoy, but in our own style, putting a brassy twist on each new tune.
Reevell: When we formed the band, we saw that there were lots of New Orleans-style brass bands playing covers but we wanted to create and play more intricate arrangements that showed off the versatility of our players, with a bit of humour and fun involved. For example, our arrangement of ‘Umbrella’ mixes it with ‘Singin’ in the Rain’.
Jacobs: I handled the logistics of everything – which turned out to be much more work than we expected! James set to it and arranged around 20 songs, with other band members chipping in things they already had, or adding to the list of things they thought would work well. We've also got a list of around 80 other covers we're currently working on, from Britney Spears to ABBA.
In your experience, what challenges do working musicians face today?
Reevell: There's always the antisocial hours and work-life balance; when combined with teaching it can mean you're working evenings and weekends too, in addition to the ‘day job’.
Jacobs: To make a success of it, it has to be about diverse working. We both teach A-level Music and Music Technology at sixth-form and privately tutor students alongside our work with Flat Cap Brass. Many of the band are also either school or instrumental music teachers.
Reevell: I think that to make a career out of music, it's about having ‘many strings to your bow’. Performing makes us better teachers, and vice versa.
And the highlights?
Jacobs: Our first rehearsal was one of the highlights. Having everyone in the same room and playing the first few notes, thinking ‘this is going to work’. After that, our first gig was definitely a memorable moment. We were both very proud to see our ideas finally turn into reality, and seeing the audience have a great time, while playing with like-minded musicians.
Reevell: In the past year we've had the chance to play in pubs, at food festivals, for weddings and for community events, so no two gigs are the same. For me, the most memorable gig so far has been at Marsden Jazz Festival in October 2018 – it was great to be invited to play in the heart of the Yorkshire Pennines and alongside some amazing artists. At the venue, some of the crowd and the bar staff wore flat caps to support us!
How could we encourage more young people to learn brass instruments?
Jacobs: For us, it's all about having plenty of chances to get involved. I used to work in Melbourne, where all students from Year 7 age took up a wind instrument, which meant there were loads of bands in school across that age range, and practical music was central to the curriculum.
Reevell: When we started the band, it was about having fun and playing as a group, which is exactly the spirit that many youth and school ensembles work in. It's important to maintain that. Having a strong culture of enrichment and extra-curricular music is so important in schools, colleges and music hubs. We both have at least ten years of teaching experience, and we have seen the challenges in maintaining these opportunities at Key Stage 3 and 4 in recent years.
Jacobs: We also both think it's great for students to see that their teachers are working in the industry, and continuing to perform alongside their day-to-day teaching roles.
Flat Cap brass would love to play some music for you. If you want to hear more, you can follow them on Twitter/Instagram @FlatCapBrass, visit flatcapbrass.com, or follow ‘Flat Cap Brass’ on Facebook.
