Victory At Last has drawn inspiration from a wider pool than the previous Brighton Beat catalog. The band has always come from the Afrobeat tradition and builds upon it with their love and appreciation of Jazz and improvisation. Adding in Latin rhythms and Reggae sensibilities have always been a hallmark of the band’s sound, but now with this new release, the album showcases a deeper dive into some different worlds. Utilizing more adventurous production and multitracking, this record explores the wider world of Funk music, and even takes notes from heavier Rock at times with distorted guitars and breakdowns. The drums and rhythms have pulled more from Breakbeats and DJ culture, and have a wide variety of tones, dirt, crunch and vintage flair. On the other side of the spectrum, there are some explorations of soundscapes and interludes to provide a bit more of the experimental and orchestral side of the band. All-in-all the theme of this record was to have no rules, no expectations, just a true exploration of creativity.
This is a strong step forward and a strong statement for the state of the band. It is a development of the style that is entirely unique and all our own. Starting off with classic Brighton Beat groove and melodies, the record slowly and intentionally takes detours into deep funk, dub, psychedelics, and eventually lands at a soothing meditative bounce, breaking with traditions and sharing new elements never heard before on a Brighton Beat recording. Soundscapes, synths, acoustic guitars…there are a lot of firsts on this record, but none that you will hear for the last time.
This record is also the very first we have pressed to Vinyl! We are thrilled to offer it for sale in our online store.
Recorded lie at Dreamland Studios in Woodstock, NY - this EP is a fun romp in the middle of a tour for The Brighton Beat right before the pandemic. A raw, fun, unbridled energy fills these tracks, comprised of a re-recording and new take of “Off We Go” (watch in-studio video here) a re-recording and new take on “Changing Elevators” featuring Ryan Nava on vocals, and one new song “Take The High Ground” that captures the energy and momentum of the time!
During the Summer of 2020, being stuck at home and not able to play music with each other and perform live, we wanted to put something together featuring almost every person who's ever played with us to celebrate music, family, and being home...
Thus, we present our cover of This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody) Originally by: Talking Heads. Recorded entirely remotely, be sure to check out the video for the full experience and to hopefully warm your heart.
Recorded live in October of 2017 and released exactly one year later in 2018, “Live At The Clayton Opera House” holds great significance to the band and it’s development.
Firstly as a completely live recorded album, it is a testament to the energy the band exudes when performing, as well as the risks, rewards and crowd engagement that makes each show a unique and engaging spectacle.
Equally as important, it is a celebration of, and a gift to the town of Clayton, NY where the band has spent time each year growing a dedicated following, helping to curate and grow the Clayton Jazz Festival, and most importantly to develop, launch and refine an educational program of clinics, masterclasses and hands-on Jazz/World music training.
Click Here to learn more about the Jazz In The Classroom program and our education initiatives.
The 2016 release "Hear And Now" showcases the maturation of a band that has taken the time to hone its craft, sound and vision. Going into the studio with a clear goal, and a road-worn cohesiveness, this record showcases the heart, joy and talent of The Brighton Beat.
Leading a band that has grown and developed together over the years, and refined its sound and approach, Sammy Wags took the opportunity to reflect on the roots of the project and infused the sessions with the joy, exuberance and raw exposed quality that harkens back to the early days of the project.
Bringing loving, talented people together to make a truly new sound has always been the goal of the band, and "Hear And Now" showcases the energy and experimentation of the future generation of Jazz musicians that aren't going to sit back and let the world pass them by.
For their 2015 sophomore offering; “Off We Go” The Brighton Beat decided to have a crowd-funding campaign on Kickstarter to help grow community and to be afforded the ability to release there first in-studio offering with much more reach and support. The campaign was a huge success and ended up far surpassing any original goals.
The album release party was held at the world-renowned Blue Note Jazz Club in NYC to sold-out audience. The band looks at this record as a turning point in the story of The Brighton Beat. This marks an important chapter welcoming many new players into the family, and establishing a new home in New York City.
The music is a bit more fleshed out, a bit more intricate, and a sign of bigger things to come.
The very first official release; “The Brighton Beat LP” comes from very humble beginnings. Recorded in 2011, entirely live, with musicians dispersed throughout the Brighton, MA apartment of Sammy Wags; The Brighton Beat LP was the first chance to show the world what the band had to offer. The sound is raw and unbridled and the playing is energetic and experimental.
There is a certain nostalgia and fondness for this record felt by the players involved in these sessions. With a large band spread out among many rooms, unable to visually communicate, the project relied solely on listening intently to each other and having faith that everyone would make section and groove changes as a unified team. Something that harkens back to the early days of recorded music. In fact, "Giraffe" and "Indian Summer" are single takes and were experiments that ended up proving to be worthy of the release.