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.