NY Times profile the Roots

[rodgeman]

NY Times has a video about the band "The Roots". This is also the house band for Jimmy Fallon's show. They have a sousaphone player in it.

They do not interview the Sousaphone player but it was nice to see:

http://video.nytimes.com/video/2010/07/ ... roots.html

I hope you enjoy!

[SRanney]

...Jimmy Fallon's show...

Jimmy Fallon has a talk show? I had no idea.

[Bignick1357]

You have to go see them live to get a good listen to him.

[Michael Bush]

I saw that the other day and concluded the sousaphone was there mostly for visual effect. But the nytimes.com post was the first I heard of the band, since I've never seen the show.

[David Richoux]

If you are looking for a funky, soulful hip-hop band with Sousaphone, I would first suggest the Youngblood Brass Band (even though the band is from Wisconsin and a a bit "melanin challenged" - they really do have it going!)

Nat Mcintosh was a founding member, Arian Macklin is currently on Sousaphone.

[sloan]

The sousaphone guy is always super-low in the mix. When I do (barely) hear him, he seems to be playing the right pitches, but its really difficult to tell what he's really contributing.

I gave him a rather scathing review after the first show. I'm pleased to report that he's toned down everything I complained about and now is a positive addition.

Bloke is correct in that it's hard to actually *hear* him on the broadcasts - but I have to assume that he's adding something for the live audience (and also, presumably, for the band itself). The setup is a bit wierd, and he appears to have his bell twisted to the side so that it projects directly across the band while he faces front.

It would be nice to hear a few "unplugged" numbers where his contribution is more prominent. Right now, if he didn't show up all you would lose is the sight of him pogo-ing with the nice shiny Sousaphone.