Ellington

Since forming in summer 2010, Southern Komfort Brass Band has exposed Jackson to live New Orleans-style brass-band music. With influences such as Rebirth Brass Band, Soul Rebels Brass Band, Trombone Shorty, Miles Davis and Motown, Southern Komfort brings a bit of New Orleans to old-school and contemporary hits.

Southern Komfort is sousaphone player Jamie Abrams, percussionist Tim Boyd, trombone player Lorenzo Gayden, percussionist Gerard Howard, tenor saxophonist Cedric Eubanks, trumpet player Joseph Handy, trumpet player Terry Miller and trombone player Eric James. Trumpet player Corey Hannah and trumpet player and percussionist Dorran Thigpen serve as alternates. All the members of Southern Komfort have partipated in some sort of school or military marching band in the past.

The band averages about six performances per month, usually at weddings, private parties and social events. The men of Southern Komfort enjoy doing second line-style performances—being in the crowd and leading dance lines. At "Bright Lights Belhaven Nights," however, the band will take the stage.

"A lot of people are not too familiar with us playing on a stage, but we have a wide range of music that we can perform," Abrams says.

Its repertoire includes R&B, hip-hop, jazz, rock, and pop cover songs such as "Sweet Dreams," "Down Home Blues" and "Let's Get It On." From time to time, they also incorporate some blues and reggae. In addition, Gayden wrote several original songs for the band within the last two years.

Southern Komfort aims to please crowds of all sizes. "Be ready to dance and have fun," Abrams says.

Southern Komfort Brass Band performs from 6:30-7:30 p.m. on the Trustmark Bank Jazz Stage at Bright Lights Belhaven Nights Aug. 10. Visit the band's Facebook page.