HYPNOTIC BRASS ENSEMBLE

In the late 70's through the early 80's, all the brothers were born on the south side of Chicago, Illinois. Their family had a strong musical legacy that span the city. In 1986, their father formed "Phil Cohran and the Youth Ensemble". The eight brothers performed with their mothers, older brothers and sisters, as well as their father, Kelan Phil Cohran ( co-founder of AACM, Sun Ra's lead trumpeter, mentor to "the Pharoahs", later known as " Earth Wind and Fire"). The brother’s decided not to present their original work in local club’s. They believed to become a force in music, performing in club’s would stifle their growth, and their talent needed proper cultivation.

So they began marketing and promoting in the shopping district of their hometown Chicago. Soon after achieving success, and becoming a tourist attraction at popular spots within the Loopand Water Tower areas. The band began travelling to other cities,Los Angeles,New Orleans, but New York City enticed the brother’s the most.

In 1999 the brothers combined their efforts and began performing a new style of brass music they called "Hypnotic". After recording their first album "the Flipside" they won the 2001 CPS Young Author's Award for the title track on the cd "Satin Sheets". This success propelled them on to perform for "WNUA Jazzin at the Lake", "State street Live", and "Metamorphosis of Jazz" all on behalf of Chicago department of Tourism and Special Events. In 2005 Hypnotic released their sophomore album "Jupiter" reeling off the success of the freshman LP's 325,000 units sold independently (Merc Records). In the past few years, they have travelled all over the world playing for audiences of all genres; opening up for the B52's at Chicago HOB, Talib Kweli at Harold Washington Cultural Center, headlining along with Mos Def at Lincoln center in NY, and backing up Maceo Parker at Apollo Theater in Harlem. This talented family of performers wrote every song on their sophomore release while at the same time recording collaborations with artists such as Ghost Face Killah and Tony Allen.