Hypnotic Brass Ensemble

Hypnotic Brass Ensemble (HBE) represents a unique intersection of jazz lineage and hip-hop culture. Comprising eight sons of the legendary trumpeter and Sun Ra Arkestra member Phil Cohran, the group was raised in a rigorous musical environment in Chicago, practicing from dawn before attending school.

This discipline is evident in their technical precision and polyphonic complexity. A and Public Enemy. This 'Now Music' style eschews the traditional soloist-focused model of jazz in favor of a collective, groove-oriented approach that mimics the loops and samples of rap production using purely acoustic instruments. Their career arc moved from street busking in Chicago and New York to global stages, collaborating with artists like Gorillaz, Erykah Badu, and Tony Allen. Critically, they are viewed as a bridge between high-art jazz theory and populist street music, maintaining a reputation for raw, high-energy live performances that retain a sophisticated, almost meditative harmonic depth.