Notable Modern Sousaphone Players

Kirk Joseph

Genres: R&B, Jazz

Son of jazz trombonist Waldren "Frog" Joseph, Kirk took up sousaphone in high school and never looked back. Citing "Tuba Fats" Lacen as his inspiration, he went on to help establish today's New Orleans brass band sound - jazz and funk influences layered on a foundation of traditional marching band and Dixieland music.

Short interview and clip of Kirk Joseph and Terrance Houston (the Dirty Dozen Brass Band) performing a tune called Zero Separation.

Nat McIntosh

Genres: Jazz, beatboxing

Former leader of the YoungBlood Brass Band, McIntosh is a master of modern jazz on the sousaphone, with impressive technical chops in conventional playing as well as beatboxing and the use of multiphonics.

This solo from the Swiss Powerbrass Concert shows off his amazing technique.

More from Swiss Powerbrass

Edward Lee Jr.

Genre: New Orleans Jazz

Another NOLO musician, Lee is a member of the Soul Rebels Brass Band.

Damon "Tuba Gooding Jr" Bryson

Genres: Hip-Hop, Alternative Hip-Hop

Best known for his work with The Roots is Damon Bryson, aka Tuba Gooding Jr. While he gets less attention than frontmen and founders Ahmed "Questlove" Thompson and Tariq "Black Thought" Trotter, he is a strong musician in his own right.

Clip of Bryson from a sold-out 2012 appearance at the House of Blues.