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Raya Brass Band

Raya Brass Band does it on the dance floor, mashing up the music of Eastern Europe with American dance grooves. Featuring odd meters, unusual scales and a fine helping of gorgeous Balkan and Romany (Gypsy) melodies played on reeds, trumpet, accordion, tuba and drums, Brooklyn favorites Raya Brass Band brings you the best in Eastern European wedding music.

Raya Brass Band draws in both average listeners and Eastern European folk music aficionados alike with its energetic and engaging portable show. As a fully acoustic ensemble, Raya Brass Band can wander freely, bringing a Balkan style dance party to every corner of the room. With members of the band ready to teach basic Balkan dances at the drop of a hat, the audience can choose to listen, learn some new dance steps, or shake everything they’ve got however they like!

Since its inception, Raya Brass Band has thrilled audiences throughout New York City at events ranging from late night rooftop parties parties, Mardi Gras celebrations and large Balkan music festivals to humble community concerts and impromptu “guerilla” shows. By channeling the festive, exciting and spontaneous music of the Balkans, Raya Brass Band brings the immediate and joyous experience of the Eastern European village brass band from its own “village” of Brooklyn, NY.

The band has recently appeared at Lincoln Center Out of Doors, Joe’s Pub Summer Salon Series with Sxip Shirey at the Cooper Square Hotel, the Brooklyn Flea, Queens Library, Club Helsinki in Hudson, NY, the Children’s Museum of Art in Manhattan and Sarah Small’s Tableaux Vivant at One Hanson Place in Brooklyn.

Raya Brass Band is:

Greg Squared – Saxophone
Ben Syversen – Trumpet
Matthew “Max” Fass – Accordion
Don Godwin - Tuba
EJ Fry – Percussion

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11
Album Review

Raya Brass Band: Raya

Read "Raya" reviewed by Mark Sullivan


From the sound you would probably place Brooklyn's Raya Brass Band in some other Brooklyn--one located somewhere in the Balkans. Their bright, joyful music is never far from the traditional wedding music of the Balkans and Greece. It's dance music, grooves like crazy, and is just plain fun. You may not spontaneously jump up and dance, but I defy you to not tap your foot or nod your head while listening. Greg Squared (saxophone), Ben Syversen (trumpet), and Don Godwin ...

6
Album Review

Raya Brass Band: Raya

Read "Raya" reviewed by Karl Ackermann


The Balkans. Centuries of unrest, revolution and occupation have left much of the region without a clear identity to the point where historians are inconsistent on which countries accurately form its constituency. Culturally, an organically developed assimilation took precedence over national boundaries and a type of regional folk music called sevdalinka, along with strong elements of Gypsy music, became most prominent. If one were inclined toward this dark, somber style, its integration with other genres was a long time in ...

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“There’s been a buzz about this band lately and it's well-deserved... These guys took [the party] up a notch.” --Lucid Culture

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Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Raya

Self Produced
2016

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Raya

Self Produced
2015

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