The Brass Band

The Brass Band (later known as Tour de Farce) were an American musical comedy troupe, based in San Francisco,[1][2] who won the Edinburgh Comedy Award in 1984. They comprised five members - Loois Tooloose, Jimby, Fritz van der Vol (or Frumheimer[1]), The Captain and Buford.

Van der Vol (real name Johannes Mager) played the tuba, The Captain (real name Bob Jennings) played the trombone, Buford (George Wallace) played the baritone horn, Jimby (James Aron) and Loois Tooloose (Bob Leach) both played the trumpet. Often they would play lengths of garden hose with mouthpieces attached. They wore costumes which collectively formed a band uniform. Aron, for example, wore an aviator's helmet.[3] They each adopted distinct personas. For example, Van der Vol was the center of attention, the Captain was the straight man. Jennings and Mager were both classical musicians and the two trumpeters had backgrounds in jazz and rock.[4]

Their act was described by the LA Times as "an antic blend of in-your-face street theater, sublime musical warblings and a few other spices" and "as if the Marx Brothers, stoned to the gills on laughing gas, decided they'd have a stab at playing a transcription of a Bach toccata. While dancing."[3]

They formed in 1976, starting out as straight musicians. They began to lampoon themselves between gigs which led to comedy.[3] They were hired as a street group to play period music at the San Francisco Dickens Fair. They were each expected to dress as a character from a Dickens novel and to affect an English accent. They were unable to take this seriously, and dismayed organizers with their rendition of Blue Moon. The comedy routine became so popular they ended up on stage."[4]

In 1980, an Australian producer named John Pinder booked them for a five-month tour of the country. They broke box office records, and follow-up engagements arose in London, Boston, several cities in Canada and back in San Francisco.[3] Then in 1984, they played the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, winning the Edinburgh Comedy Award (then known as the Perrier). Not finding a strong following in America, they continued to mainly play overseas, particularly in Australia and Japan.[4]

In later years, they changed their name to Tour de Farce, taking the name from a comment by a reviewer. Buford left, and classically-trained euphonium player Kevin Linscott joined as "Waldo Chompski".[4]

The band went on hiatus in 1991[5] after a final tour of Japan, due to unforeseen pressures and family matters. They briefly re-united in 1994 to play Harvest Festivals along the West Coast, and through cities in Nevada and Arizona. [6]

Leach died on Christmas Eve 2016 from Lou Gehrig's disease. [6]

Recordings

In 1977, they released a 7" single version of Rossini's William Tell Overture and Scott Joplin's Peacherine Rag.[7]

In Australia, they recorded another 7", The Stars and Stripes Forever,[8] and a full live album, Just A Tiny Boo-Boo . . . The Brass Band Live In Australia[9]

Back in America in 1984, they released another single, The Russians Aren't Coming (The Russians Aren't Coming).[10]

References
  1. Hall, Julian (10 August 2009). "Fringe benefits: How winning the top comedy prize at Edinburgh can transform a performer's life". The Independent. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
  2. Welikala, Judith (21 August 2013). "Edinburgh Comedy Award winners: where are they now?". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
  3. Voland, John (19 December 1986). "5 Zanies Who Are Trying To Transmute Brass Into Gold". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
  4. Bliss, Susan (6 January 1990). "Tour de Farce Has a Lot of Brass for a Madcap Music Ensemble". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
  5. "Johannes Mager". Retrieved 29 October 2017.
  6. "In Memory of Robert (Bobby) Alan "Bob Bobby" Leach". Oakmont Mortuary. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
  7. "The Brass Band: The William Tell Overture". discogs.com. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
  8. "The Brass Band: The Stars and Stripes Forever". discogs.com. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
  9. "The Brass Band: Just A Tiny Boo Boo". discogs.com. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
  10. "The Brass Band: The Russians Aren't Coming". discogs.com. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
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