the band

Take a dose of New Orleans street jazz, mix with one part Zug Island funk and a pinch of carnival rhythms and you have the heady Detroit brew known as the Motor City Street Band.

Formed in 1993 by Sun Messengers' sax man Rick Steiger, the Motor City Street Band was originally launched to promote the opening of a local photographic exhibition on the notorious Mardi Gras Indians of New Orleans. The fellas liked the sound so much, they decided to become a regular giggin' group and went on to appear at the Montreux Detroit Jazz Festival, Frog Island Music Festival, Detroit Festival of the Arts, Ann Arbor Summerfest, Ann Arbor Art Fairs, Greektown Art Fair, Art Over The Interstate (Oak Park) and the Palace of Auburn Hills, where they regularly perform before the Pistons and Shock games. Their presence was even requested at a traditional jazz funeral in Motown.

At full strength, the Motor City Street Band combine five horns and two drums. The roster includes the Sun Messengers' music director Terry Thunder on bass drum and vocals, Carl "Cheez" Harris of Windsor on snare drum, renowned trombonist John "T-Bone" Paxton, young lion Dwight Adams on trumpet, the amazing Russ Miller on alto sax and holding it all together on the bottom, Vince Humphrey on tuba.

One of Detroit's best known bandleaders, baritone saxophonist Rick Steiger plays in and provides the driving force that inspires the Motor City Street Band. It has long been his dream to have a band that parades while it plays.

"It's something the Sun Messengers used to do, but we were limited by our sound system and electric instruments," says Steiger. "The Motor City Street Band is completely acoustic and completely mobile. This allows us to break down the wall between the stage and the audience at the drop of a hat."

Repertoire includes classic New Orleans tunes "Li’l Liza Jane" and "Saints" as well as funk, R&B, jazz and afro-pop.

With demand for the band on the increase, this Motor City band is poised to go where few other Detroit bands have gone ... straight to the streets.