Home » Jazz Musicians » Bonerama

Bonerama

Even in a city that doesn’t play by the rules, New Orleans’ Bonerama is something different. They can evoke vintage funk, classic rock and free improvisation in the same set; maybe even the same song. Bonerama has been repeatedly recognized by Rolling Stone, hailed as “the ultimate in brass balls” (2005) and praised for their “crushing ensemble riffing, human-feedback shrieks and wah-wah growls” (2007). Bonerama carries the brass-band concept to places unknown; what other brass band could snag an honor for “Best Rock Band” (Big Easy Awards 2007)? As cofounder Mark Mullins puts it, “We thought we could expand what a New Orleans brass band could do. Bands like Dirty Dozen started the “anything goes” concept, bringing in the guitars and the drum kit and using the sousaphone like a bass guitar. We thought we could push things a little further.”

New Orleans’ fertile club scene was directly responsible for Bonerama getting together. Trombonists Mullins and Craig Klein were both members of Harry Connick’s band, where they’d been since 1990. Both were looking to supplement this gig with something a little less structured. “Harry sets the bar pretty high, and you have to play it the same way every night for everyone to follow.”

The big chance came in the summer of ’98, when Mullins had a weekly residency at Tipitina’s in the French Quarter. The club was then turning weekly slots over to some of the city’s favorite musicians, including Allen Toussaint and Cyril Neville; Mullins got charge of Wednesdays. Word got out one week that he and Klein were staging their trombone super-session and everybody they knew wanted to get involved. “It seemed that half the trombone players in town showed up,” Klein recalls. “At the end of the night we had them all onstage, maybe fifteen trombones at once. It sounded like a freight train; a big wall of sound coming right at you.”

Along with his jazz connections, Mullins is Bonerama’s resident rock ‘n’ roller: It was Mullins who instigated the offbeat classic-rock covers that have become a band tradition. Edgar Winter’s “Frankenstein” was the first nugget to get the treatment and songs by Hendrix, Zeppelin, Black Sabbath and the Allman Brothers Band have since appeared in their set right alongside the funk and jazz-flavored numbers. “There’s definitely something about the guitar and the trombone that are related,” Mullins figures. “You compare the fretboard to the slide; there’s a lot of similarity there.” Indeed, the sounds Mullins makes by playing through a guitar amp and wah-wah pedal may explain why he’s named Jimi Hendrix as one of his favorite trombonists. “It’s great to grab people with the rock songs, and then turn them on to some New Orleans music at the same time,” Klein says.

Read more

Tags

8
Live Review

Bonerama at the Iridium

Read "Bonerama at the Iridium" reviewed by Mike Perciaccante


Bonerama The Iridium Early Show New York, NY July 29, 2017 Bonerama is one of the most genuine, unique and interesting bands to have come out of New Orleans. Bonerama incorporates jazz, brass, funk, fusion, gospel, soul, pop, rock, blues, a touch of alternative and even a bit of reggae into its one-of-a-kind sound. Trombone players Mark Mullins and Craig Klein formed the band in 1998. Over the years the band has ...

17
Live Review

Bonerama at the Governors Island Beach Club

Read "Bonerama at the Governors Island Beach Club" reviewed by Mike Perciaccante


Bonerama Governers Island Beach Club NolaFunk's 1st Annual Crawfish & Music Fest Governors Island, NY June 27, 2014 Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler! Those who speak French know what the phrase means. If you have ever been to jny: New Orleans, you've “lived" this phrase. If you've had the pleasure of seeing Bonerama in concert you can't help but scream the phrase at the top of your lungs. French or English. Either way, Let ...

6
Album Review

Bonerama: Shake It Baby

Read "Shake It Baby" reviewed by Wade Luquet


Bonerama is fun. Bonerama is powerful. And in their first full-length studio CD, they have made a switch from their previous live recordings of brass-infused funk to brass infused-rock. Along with the ever present trio of trombones, the bands guitarist, Bert Cotton, has stepped up to the front line to become a major player with his robust rock licks. Backed by some talented friends who have joined the party on this album, including Dr John, Dave Malone, and George Porter, ...

421
Live Review

Bonerama Rocks Long's Park in Lancaster, PA

Read "Bonerama Rocks Long's Park in Lancaster, PA" reviewed by Wade Luquet


Bonerama Long's Park Amphitheater Lancaster, Pennsylvania June 14, 2009While many communities have free summer concerts, few have as an impressive a lineup as the Long's Park Summer Music Series in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. With very strong local business support, the Long's Park Amphitheater Foundation is able to bring in such groups as Papa Grows Funk, Kathy Mattea, Los Lobos, Buckwheat Zydeco, and The Preservation Hall Jazz Band. The 71 acre park consisting of picnic ...

Read more articles
1

Video / DVD

StLJN Saturday Video Showcase: Bonerama gets the Led out

StLJN Saturday Video Showcase: Bonerama gets the Led out

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman

This week, let's take a look at some videos featuring the New Orleans band Bonerama, who will be returning to St. Louis to perform Thursday, March 20 at the Broadway Oyster Bar. Many StLJN readers will need no introduction, as Bonerama have been frequent visitors to our town over the past decade, most recently playing here in February 2019 at the Bootleg at the Atomic Cowboy. Since that appearance, last spring they released Bonerama Plays Zeppelin, featuring trombone-centric cover versions ...

Performance / Tour

Jazz this week: Take 6, Tatsuya Nakatani, Bonerama, Xmas jazz around town, and more

Jazz this week: Take 6, Tatsuya Nakatani, Bonerama, Xmas jazz around town, and more

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman

It's going to be a busy few days for jazz and creative music in St. Louis, and though a couple of high-profile shows are sold out (or nearly so), there's still going to be plenty of music- holiday and other- available on local stages. Let's go to the highlights. Wednesday, December 13 Acappella vocal group Take 6 returns for the first of four nights at Jazz at the Bistro. The run of shows was described by Jazz St. Louis on ...

Video / DVD

StLJN Saturday Video Showcase: Bonerama puts low brass on top

StLJN Saturday Video Showcase: Bonerama puts low brass on top

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman

This week, StLJN's video spotlight shines on Bonerama, who will be back in St. Louis to perform on Saturday, December 16 at The Bootleg at Atomic Cowboy. The New Orleans-based band puts the low brass on top, thanks to a three-trombone front line plus a sousaphone standing in for electric bass. Formed in 1998 by trombonists Mark Mullins and Craig Klein, both veterans of Harry Connick Jr.'s big band, they've forged a distinctive sound that incorporates their hometown musical traditions ...

Performance / Tour

Jazz this week: Warren Wolf, Susan Alcorn & Frank Rosaly, Bonerama, and more

Jazz this week: Warren Wolf, Susan Alcorn & Frank Rosaly, Bonerama, and more

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman

While the winter weather may have taken a turn for the worse this week in St. Louis, the jazz and creative music touring activity here is heating up, with three (or four, depending on you count) visiting headliners in town over the next few days, plus an eclectic assortment of shows from local performers. Let's go to the highlights... Wednesday, January 20 Vibraphonist Warren Wolf and his band Wolfpack will begin a four-night engagement continuing through Saturday at Jazz at ...

1

Performance / Tour

Jazz this week: "Jazz St. Louis at 20," "3 Nights in September," Bonerama, and more

Jazz this week: "Jazz St. Louis at 20," "3 Nights in September," Bonerama, and more

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman

This week's calendar of jazz and creative music in and around St. Louis includes an anniversary celebration for the city's most prolific jazz presenter, plus a gathering of our town's free improvisors, the return of a favorite New Orleans band, and more. Let's go to the highlights... Wednesday, September 23 The “3 Nights in September" festival of improvised music continues at Tavern of Fine Arts, with sets from Ghost Ice, Mister Ben, and Dave Stone with Henry Claude, Glenn “Papa" ...

3

Performance / Tour

Jazz this week: Stooges Brass Band, Jazz at Lincoln Center Group, Bonerama, Johanna Ballou, and more

Jazz this week: Stooges Brass Band, Jazz at Lincoln Center Group, Bonerama, Johanna Ballou, and more

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman

For the middle of January, it's a comparatively busy week for jazz and creative music in St. Louis, with tastes of jny: NYC and jny: New Orleans on the musical menu along with plenty of home-cooked favorites. Let's go to the highlights... Wednesday, January 14 Saxophonist/clarinetist Victor Goines, one of the group of Jazz at Lincoln Center musicians doing an educational residency this week for Jazz St. Louis, will present a free performance and clinic at Saxquest. Also tonight, singer ...

Performance / Tour

Jazz This Week: Matt Wilson Quartet with John Medeski, Bonerama, Dave Easley, and More

Jazz This Week: Matt Wilson Quartet with John Medeski, Bonerama, Dave Easley, and More

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman

While winter weather has delayed one of this week's headliners for a day, there's still plenty of live jazz and creative music happening in and around St. Louis for those willing to get out and brave the cold. Let's go to the highlights... If it weren't for the big snowstorm hitting the East Coast, tonight would have been the first of four nights featuring drummer Matt Wilson's quartet with special guest pianist John Medeski at Jazz at the Bistro. However, ...

Performance / Tour

Jazz This Week: Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Bonerama, "88 Squared," and More

Jazz This Week: Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Bonerama, "88 Squared," and More

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman

For a lot of St. Louis jazz fans, there's a hole in this weekend approximately the size and shape of tenor saxophone giant Sonny Rollins, who, up until a couple of weeks ago, had been scheduled to play this Saturday night at the Touhill Performing Arts Center. Unfortunately, Rollins' continuing health issues forced him to cancel the show here, along with the rest of his summer schedule. Fortunately, there are lots of other jazz and creative music events on tap ...

Performance / Tour

Jazz This Week: Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Bonerama, "88 Squared," Dave Dickey Big Band, and More

Jazz This Week: Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Bonerama, "88 Squared," Dave Dickey Big Band, and More

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman

For a lot of St. Louis jazz fans, there's a hole in this weekend approximately the size and shape of tenor saxophone giant Sonny Rollins, who, up until a couple of weeks ago, had been scheduled to play this Saturday night at the Touhill Performing Arts Center. Unfortunately, Rollins' continuing health issues forced him to cancel the show here, along with the rest of his summer schedule. Fortunately, there are lots of other jazz and creative music events on tap ...

Performance / Tour

Bonerama to Play Sunday, June 23 at Broadway Oyster Bar

Bonerama to Play Sunday, June 23 at Broadway Oyster Bar

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman

The New Orleans band Bonerama is returning to St. Louis for another gig, this time at 8:00 p.m. Sunday, June 23 at the Broadway Oyster Bar. The group's rocked-out take on the NOLA brass band tradition features an all-trombone front line plus rhythm section. They last played St. Louis in September 2012 at The Gramophone. This time, they'll be promoting their just-released album Shake It Baby. Their first full-length studio album, it features more vocals and guitar as part of ...

Photos

Concerts

Aug 10 Sat

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Shake It Baby

Self Produced
2013

buy

Bringing It Home

MTP Records
2007

buy

Similar

Greyboy Allstars
band / ensemble / orchestra
Robert Walter
organ, Hammond B3
Dirty Dozen Brass Band
band / ensemble / orchestra
Rebirth Brass Band
band / ensemble / orchestra
Galactic
band / ensemble / orchestra
The Meters
band / ensemble / orchestra

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.