SEE IT: Brooklyn’s Brass Queens headline Village Halloween Parade
November 4, 2022 Beth Eisgrau-Heller
The Brass Queens is a Brooklyn-based, all-female, eight-piece New Orleans-influenced brass band with a wide, genre-crossing repertoire. Front Row: Trumpet players Stephanie King (left), Co-Founder Alex Joseph (center), Minerva Johnson (right). Second Row: Co-Founder and alto saxophone player Ally Chapel (left), trombonist shared the group always seeks female drummers first. But, many of their go-to musicians play on Broadway and are in extremely high demand. As such, their percussionists are constantly rotating. Photo by Beth Eisgrau-Heller
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Brooklyn’s own Brass Queens, an eight-piece ensemble with an all-female horn section, performed at this year’s Village Halloween Parade. The band is deeply inspired by the New Orleans tradition which influences their sound that spans various genres. Their goal is to expand the space for women in a male-dominated industry. Brass Queens has performed at the Brooklyn Public Library’s 125th Gala Celebration, the 2021 Met Gala, Governor’s Ball Music Festival, and for notable clients including Chanel, Facebook, Instagram, Mattell, New Balance, Saks Fifth Avenue, Tiffany & Co., and many more. The members live in Fort Greene, Bed-Stuy, Bushwick, Crown Heights, and Park Slope, among other Brooklyn neighborhoods.
On being invited to headline New York City’s 49th annual Halloween Village Parade, Co-Founder and trumpet player Alex Joseph shared, “Being invited to lead the parade was a huge honor. The parade is a cultural institution that many of us have participated in over the years with different groups, so to have them recognize our band in particular and the impact we’ve had in the community means so much to us. We hope that having a female-led band leading the parade will inspire others to keep making music and making space for themselves and their art.”
Say it with us, “YASSS QUEENS!”
Parade Grand Marshall and long-time volunteer, Peter Chriswell. Photo by Beth Eisgrau-HellerSelf-proclaimed “Celebration Artist” Jeanne Fleming takes one of many 11th-hour phone calls in the parade staging area. Jeanne has been the Village Halloween Parade’s Artistic and Production Director since 1985. She maintained this calm, joyful demeanor throughout the entire evening. Photo by Beth Eisgrau-HellerParade Musical Director Matthew Fass Photo by Beth Eisgrau-HellerA job well done. The Brass Queens pose with a new fan (center in a skeletal bat costume) at the end of the parade route. From left to right: Elizabeth Arce (trombone), Ally Chapel (alto sax), Marc Basch (snare drum), Joe Fusca (base drum), Alex Joseph (trumpet), Heather Ewer (tuba), Jenna Murdoch (tenor sax), Minerva Johnson (trumpet), and Stephanie King (trumpet). Photo by Beth Eisgrau-HellerFloat like a butterfly, buzz like a tuba! From left to right Heather Ewer (tuba), Elizabeth Arce (trombone), and Marc Basch (snare drum). Photo by Beth Eisgrau-HellerNY1’s Dean Meminger dressed as Eddie Murphy’s character Maximillian from Vampire in Brooklyn. Photo by Beth Eisgrau-HellerBrass Queens Halloween 2022 Photo: Beth Heller PhotoBrass Queens dancin’ in the streets. From left to right: Co-Founders Ally Chapel and Alex Johnson, Jenna Murdoch, Marc Basch, and Minerva Johnson. Photo by Beth Eisgrau-HellerTime to shine! Brass Queens belt out a number before NY1’s cameras and thousands of spectators lining Sixth Avenue and the intersection of West 8th Street. Photo by Beth Eisgrau-HellerTurn on the bright lights. Brass Queens pause and prepare for their appearance on NY1. The station has covered NYC’s Village Halloween Parade for decades. Photo by Beth Eisgrau-HellerScared Silly. Some parade spectators truly got into the spirit of Halloween. Photo by Beth Eisgrau-HellerBrass Queens perform as they lead the procession of ghosts and ghouls north on Sixth Avenue toward 15th Street. From left to right: Stephanie King (trumpet), Alex Johnson (trumpet), Ally Chapel (alto sax), Jenna Murdoch (tenor sax), Heather Ewer (tuba), Minerva Johnson (trumpet), Elizabeth Arce (trombone). Photo by Beth Eisgrau-HellerSpectators eagerly delight in the puppeteer’s performance and eagerly snap cell phone pictures as they make their skeletons dance. Photo by Beth Eisgrau-HellerThe freaks come out at night. “Chuckie” ogles the parade route from a distance as a pair of dapper costumed skeletons pause to listen to the Brass Queens. Photo by Beth Eisgrau-HellerBone party. From left to right trombonist Elizabeth Arce and trumpet player Minerva Johnson. Photo by Beth Eisgrau-Heller
Boogie down. Brass Queens’ trumpet player Stephanie King sashays her way up Sixth Avenue. Co-Founder Ally Chapel dances behind her. Photo by Beth Eisgrau-HellerArtistic and Producing Director Jeanne Fleming carefully set the pace for the parade. Here she pauses Brass Queens near the intersection of Sixth Avenue and Bleecker Street, providing the group an opportunity to showcase their talents. Photo by Beth Eisgrau-HellerOne of the signature attractions of the parade is the large-scale puppets. Here puppeteers manipulate skeletons for thousands of spectators their bones knocking together as they danced up Sixth Avenue. Photo by Beth Eisgrau-HellerStephanie King (left) and Co-Founder Alex Johnson give their all on trumpet. Photo by Beth Eisgrau-HellerSing it Sisters! Brass Queens chant as they march along Sixth Avenue toward 15th Street. Photo by Beth Eisgrau-HellerYeah Baby, Yeah! Halloween revelers dressed as Austin Powers and a Fem-bot march in the Village Halloween Parade. Photo by Beth Eisgrau-HellerBrass Queens Halloween 2022 Photo: Beth Heller PhotoArtistic and Producing Director Jeanne Fleming is the picture of serene calm and joy. NYC’s Village Halloween Parade has resided in her capable hands since 1985. Photo by Beth Eisgrau-Heller
Brass Queens’ trombonist Elizabeth Arce. Photo by Beth Eisgrau-HellerFrom left to right: Brass Queens’ Co-founder Ally Chapel plays alto saxophone. Center Jenna Murdoch on tenor sax. Right: Elizabeth Arce on trombone. Photo by Beth Eisgrau-HellerBrass Queens tune and warm up their instruments in the staging area before the commencement of NYC’s 49th Annual Village Halloween Parade. Photo by Beth Eisgrau-HellerU.S. Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney (D12), in part, represents Greenpoint, Brooklyn. Here she waits patiently in a pedicab for the procession to begin. In the late-August primary, she lost her bid for re-election to 10th district incumbent Jerry Nadler after redistricting drew them both into the 12th district. Her defeat ends a thirty-year career. Photo by Beth Eisgrau-HellerA tuba and snare drum belonging to the Brass Queens. Photo by Beth Eisgrau-HellerYou’ve got to dress up at least a little bit if you are working at the NYC Village Halloween Parade! The theme for this year’s event was “Freedom.” Our photographer utilized a paper shopping bag, Sharpie marker, and duct tape for stability to create her last-minute First Amendment costume. Photo by Beth Eisgrau-Heller
