Leo Africanus

So recently on a Saturday, we (and the wife and 2-year old daughter) were passing through Union Square where everyone’s favorite brass band plays near the 4-6 train tracks (when they’re not touring).

We’re in a hurry but my daughter wants to stop and hear them play.

And I want to snap some quick pictures.

‘No,’ says one of the band members. I would later learn he is Smoov, one of the guys on trumpet. ‘You’ve got to pay first.’ Fair enough.

I also pay for one of their CDS — the 2007 release New York Live and they, to indulge me, start to play ‘War,’ the fifth track on the CD.

I am snapping away. The crowd grows. Another guy wants to start snapping pictures. Smoov walks over to him and says ‘No.’

The guy protests: ‘But he …,’ and he gestures in my direction, ‘is taking [pictures].’

‘Yeh,’ counters Smoov, pauses and pointing at me: ‘But he’s part of the team.’

I like their hustle. I like their sound. I am a fan.

* To sample their sounds, see the band’s myspace page, watch them on Youtube (in a short New York Times feature or read the profile) or follow updates on their blog.

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