Derrick Tabb | |
|---|---|
 Tabb (on snare drum) in a second-line parade in New Orleans (2007) | |
| Background information | |
| Born | (1975-05-27)May 27, 1975 (age 49) New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, educator |
| Instrument | Drum |
| Formerly of | Hot 8 Brass Band,Rebirth Brass Band |
Derrick Tabb (born May 27, 1975) is an American musician, a long-standing member of theRebirth Brass Band and a co-founder ofThe Roots of Music, anon-profit organization that sponsors an after-school academic and music program for children inNew Orleans. For onstage performances, Tabb plays thesnare drum withcymbals mounted on stands. He was born and raised in theTremé neighborhood ofNew Orleans.
Tabb was born in theTremé neighborhood ofNew Orleans,Louisiana, an area historically known as "The Birthplace of Jazz". He began playing drums at the age of 7 and was earning a living as a professional drummer by the age of 11. Tabb attended Andrew J. Bell Middle School, where he joined the band and credits his middle school band director, Donald Richardson, for personal and professional success.[1]
In 1994, Tabb and some friends formed Loony Tunes Brass Band, later renamedHot 8 Brass Band. The band kept the name when Tabb left in 1996 to joinRebirth Brass Band andDinerral Shavers replaced Tabb as the snare drummer forHot 8.[2] Shavers was murdered inNew Orleans in 2006, a victim of mistaken identity.
As a member ofRebirth Brass Band, Tabb won aGrammy in 2012 in theBest Regional Roots Music Album category, for the studio recordingRebirth of New Orleans.[3]
In 2007, Tabb co-foundedThe Roots of Music, anon-profit after-school program for at-risk children ages 9–14 inNew Orleans schools.The Roots of Music serves 140 students each year and has a waiting list of approximately 400 students.
In the aftermath ofHurricane Katrina, area school districts reduced funding to music programs, specifically middle schools.Rebirth Brass Band member Tabb and Allison Reinhardt co-foundedThe Roots of Music, anon-profit after-school program forOrleans Parish at-risk children ages 9–14. The students are mentored in music by local New Orleans music educators and professional musicians. Academic mentoring and tutoring is provided by volunteers and graduate students fromTulane andXavier universities. Tabb stated that his goal in starting Roots was"to do for a new generation of kids what his own middle school band did for him."[1]
Monday through Thursday, the organization's school buses pick up students from 40Orleans Parish middle schools and transports them to its facility in theTremé neighborhood inNew Orleans. For the first hour and a half, the students receive homework assistance and academic tutoring by volunteers. After homework, the students receive music instruction and field practice. Before the students are transported home via school bus after practice, the students receive a hot meal. The program is entirely free for the students and relies wholly on private and corporate donations and volunteers to cover operating expenses.
The Roots of Music Crusader Band and Tabb have received numerous meritorious awards for academic achievement as well as musical accolades. Tabb was a top finalist of theCNN Heroes Award in 2009,[4] he was also the recipient of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Angel Award (2011),[5] and was a finalist for induction into theEnergizer Keep It Going Hall of Fame (2010). Tabb has also received proclamations from the City of New Orleans (2009 and 2012) and the State of Louisiana (2011) for his work with kids.
In 2013, the band participated in theTournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California and was acclaimed for having the youngest participant in the parade's long history, 6 year-old Lawrence Honoré Jr.[6]
On August 29, 2015, PresidentBarack Obama visited New Orleans to remark on the 10-year mark ofHurricane Katrina. A small ensemble ofThe Roots of Music performed prior to his speaking[7] and the band was complimented by the president during his speech.[8]
On October 1, 2007, Tabb and his brother, trombonist Glen David Andrews, were arrested for "parading without a permit" and "disturbing the peace by tumultuous manner" in theTremé neighborhood ofNew Orleans during a gathering honoring fellow musician, Kerwin James. James, the younger brother ofRebirth founders, Phil andKeith Frazier, had died following complications from a stroke in 2006. A crowd of musicians and spectators had gathered to honor James in music and song that night. Police officers, after asking the crowd the disperse and being refused, arrested Tabb and Andrews. This incident, witnessed by resident news journalists, stirred the small community and sparked outcry against the police department, as street parades are inherent to the history and culture of New Orleans.[9] The community, viewing the pair of brothers as advocates for their voice in the city, dubbed the pair with the nickname,"The Tremé Two". After several weeks of unrest and protest by neighborhood residents to the New Orleans Police Department and city council, in February 2008, the District Attorney dropped the charges without comment.[10] A fictional adaption of the incident featuring Tabb and Andrews as themselves was incorporated into an episode of theHBO television series,Treme (season 3, episode 1, "Knock with Me, Rock with Me").
Tabb is credited as the snare drummer on all studio and live recordings billed as "Rebirth Brass Band" since 1997.[11](seeRebirth Brass Band - Discography for complete listing of all Rebirth recordings)
Additionally, Tabb appears (by himself) as a guest artist on the title track of the 2012 studio album¿Which Side Are You On? byAni DiFranco, along with hisRoots of Music Crusader Band.[12] He is also credited as a featured artist on the 2010 movie soundtrackFor Colored Girls.[13]
Tabb also acted as songwriter/composer on theRebirth tracks:
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