Olympia Brass Band

by Scott YanowNo relation to The Olympia Orchestra (Freddie Keppards band of 1906-14), The Olympia Brass Band was founded in 1958 by altoist Harold Dejan. Although the group (which often played at parades and parties) always had plenty of spirit, their so-so musicianship resulted in some very erratic music with the ensembles often being out of tune. Usually the band consisted of three trumpets, two trombones, two saxes, clarinet, tuba or sousaphone, snare drum and bass drum. Among its more notable members were trumpeters Andy Anderson and Kid Sheik Colar, Emanuel Paul on tenor and Alan Jaffe (of The Preservation Hall Jazz Band) on sousaphone. The band became less active in the 1990s. The Olympia Brass Band recorded albums for Mono in 1962; New Orleans Anthology in 1965; Nola, MPS and 77 in 1968; Audiophile; VPS in 1974; OBB from 1979-80 and in 1983; the Dutch Beerendonk label in 1980; Mardi Gras; BBS; Maison Soul in 1984; Rose in 1986; Rounder and ProJazz from 1990-92.