Photo copyright Scotsman Publications
Photo - Jon McInally
Photo copyright Fotopedrazzini.ch
The Criterion Brass Band was formed in 1979 Edinburgh, in response to a request for a New Orleans style Brass Band to lead the parade at the 1st Edinburgh International Jazz Festival.
The local Edinburgh Jazz musicians and enthusiasts rallied round and the Criterion Brass Band was born.
All these years later, albeit with an ever changing line up, the band still leads the parade at the Edinburgh Jazz Festival and is Scotland's best known New Orleans Style Brass Band.
TRADITIONAL NEW ORLEANS
The early brass Bands of New Orleans consisted of both "straight " and "Jazz " musicians reading set pieces of music for both indoor & outdoor functions. Over the years there became less emphasis on reading the music and more on improvisation and a jazzy two beat. This led to the famous Onward, Eureka & Olympia Brass Bands of New Orleans. The Criterion has based it's style on these bands.
OUR STYLE
The foot tapping repertoire includes Traditional marches, Spirituals, Dirges, Blues and the occasional Latin American rhythms, stimulating the audience to enjoy the Mardi Gras atmosphere and join in the fun.
Instead of the traditional Grand Marshal, The Criterion uses two dancers to lead the band with a colourful display of jazzy footwork, twirling their decorated umbrellas and shaking their shimmy dresses.
In recent years the Criterion has played at various places including Edinburgh, Glasgow, Largs & Peebles Jazz festivals in Scotland, Turriff Agricultural Fair, G8 Make Poverty History Rally Edinburgh International Jazz & Blues Festival. JazzAscona New Orleans & Classics Festival, Davos-sounds-good Jazz Festival and Celerina Jazz Festival.
