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Lucky Chops
Performing at Zelt-Musik-Festival 2017. L-R: Gawel, Buyo, Sams, Josh Holcomb, Behroozi.
Performing at Zelt-Musik-Festival 2017. L-R: Gawel, Buyo, Sams, Josh Holcomb, Behroozi.
Background information
Origin New York City, New York, U.S.
Years active2006–present
Members
  • Josh Holcomb
  • Daro Behroozi
  • Joshua Gawel
  • Nora Nalepka
  • Ben Holcomb
  • Rogerst Charles
Past members
  • Raphael Buyo
  • Leo Pellegrino
  • Daniel Rutkowski
  • Kevin Congleton
  • Charles Sams
  • Adrian Condis
  • Patrick Simard
  • Reginald Chapman
Website luckychops.com

Lucky Chops is a band from New York City, which formed in 2006 and has performed professionally since 2014. It achieved prominence through performances on the New York City Subway which were filmed and shared on the internet, in particular a 2016 performance of " Funky Town" and " I Got You (I Feel Good)".

History

The band was founded in 2006 at Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School [1] [2] [3] by sousaphone player Raphael Buyo along with trombonist Josh Holcomb and saxophonist and clarinetist Daro Behroozi. The band was originally formed for a parade of Filipino culture that Buyo wanted to participate in; after that they began busking on street corners and in subway stations, Union Square. During their time at college, they decided to take their band to a professional level. [4]

The name "Lucky Chops" was proposed by the band's original trumpet player, Daniel Rutkowski, during a word-association brainstorming session [4] and refers to the fact that all of their instruments (except the drums) are wind.

Their early music was mainly covers and mash-ups of other songs. Their original works are influenced by the vast mix of cultures in NYC and are very personal to the member of the band who wrote the piece in question. This means the band performs a wide variety of musical styles and is not bound by a single genre. [4]

The band had a steady start, playing in the New York Subway for commuters. They gained brief internet fame from a 2016 YouTube video showing their rendition of " Funky Town" and " I Got You (I Feel Good)" featuring Leo Pellegrino, [1] [2] [5] which helped to significantly boost their popularity. Now they perform all over the world. [6] Around the time of their internet fame, they released their first album, Lucky Chops NYC.

The band has seen over 50 musicians play with them over the past 14 years, including Grace Kelly and Sunny Jain. They are also the live house band of the MTV show Girl Code Live.

Discography

See also: List of songs recorded by Lucky Chops
  • Lucky Chops NYC (2015) [7]
  • 2016 World Tour - EP (2016) [7]
  • Walter - EP (2017)
  • Virtue and Vice Sessions, Vol. 1 - EP (2018) [2]
  • Lucky Chops (2019) [2]
  • Virtue and Vice Sessions, Vol. 2 (2020)
  • 2014 (2020)
  • Live in L.A. (2021)
  • New Day (2022)
  • Virtue & Vice Sessions, Vol. 3 (2024)

Members

Dates cover period of professional performance from 2014 onwards

Current

  • Joshua Gawel - trumpet (2014-present), rotary flugelhorn, piano, vocals
  • Josh Holcomb - trombone (2014-present), baritone horn, piano, percussion, vocals
  • Rogerst Charles - alto saxophone (2022-present)
  • Daro Behroozi - tenor saxophone (2014-2023), baritone saxophone (2017-18, 2023-present), clarinet, bass clarinet, contrabass clarinet, alto saxophone, flute, vocals
  • Nora Nalepka - sousaphone (2021-present), vocals, percussion
  • Ben Holcomb - drums (2021-present), percussion, vocals

Former

  • Raphael Buyo - sousaphone (2014-18)
  • Leo Pellegrino - baritone saxophone (2014-17)
  • Jesse Chevan - drums (2014-15)
  • Kevin Congleton - drums (2015-2016)
  • Charles Sams - drums (2016-18)
  • Adrian Condis - baritone saxophone (2019-23)
  • Reginald Chapman - contrabass bugle (2019-20)
  • Patrick Simard - drums (2019-21)

Touring/Alternate

  • Timaine Bryant - sousaphone (2014-15) (alternate for Buyo)
  • Harry Phillips - sousaphone (2018-19)
  • Matt Olsen - drums (2018)
  • Eric Trudell - baritone saxophone, tenor saxophone (2018-19)
  • Attis Clopton - drums (2018-19)
  • Corey Wilcox - sousaphone (2019, 2020-21)
  • Rogerst Charles - alto saxophone (2022-23) (became band member in 2023)

Gallery

  • Daro Behroozi in 2017
    Daro Behroozi in 2017
  • Joshua Gawel in 2017
    Joshua Gawel in 2017
  • Josh Holcomb in 2016
    Josh Holcomb in 2016
  • Leo P in 2016
    Leo P in 2016
  • Raphael Buyo with his sousaphone "Walter" in 2017 (Background: Joshua Gawel)
    Raphael Buyo with his sousaphone "Walter" in 2017 (Background: Joshua Gawel)
  • Charles Sams in 2017
    Charles Sams in 2017

See also

External links

References

  1. ^ a b Collar, Matt. "Lucky Chops". All Music.
  2. ^ a b c d "Lucky Chops Set To Release Self-Titled Studio Album". Broadway World. 10 Sep 2019.
  3. ^ "Trans Musicales de Rennes 2018". France TV. 3 Dec 2016.
  4. ^ a b c Leah (1 Nov 2019). "An Interview with NYC's Premier Brass Funk Band LUCKY CHOPS!". All Access Music. Archived from the original on 2 November 2019.
  5. ^ Boilen, Bob (16 Mar 2016). "All Songs Considered". npr.
  6. ^ Àbalos, Olga (26 Jul 2018). "Lucky Chops, el tresor del metro de Nova York". Play.
  7. ^ a b Romero, Rebeca (27 Feb 2017). "El fenómeno viral de Lucky Chops aterriza en Madrid". Teinteresa.
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