Alex Bradley's trumpet delivers "soulful sounds" that bridge New Orleans second-line swagger with Asheville's mountain-town eclecticism, proving that the best brass players don't just play notes—they tell stories with every phrase, every articulation, every moment the bell points skyward.
As a core member of Empire Strikes Brass since the band's 2012 formation, Bradley has helped transform what started as a group of friends playing New Orleans-inspired funk into a collective of seriously talented musicians whose albums Theme For A Celebration and Brassterpiece Theatre (both recorded at Echo Mountain) have earned WNCW radio acclaim and festival circuit credibility. His horn has graced stages at Red Rocks (with Shpongle Live Band and Papadosio), shared bills with Umphrey's McGee, and contributed to a sound that seamlessly blends brass-band tradition with rock energy and jam-band sensibilities.
When Bradley's not laying down horn arrangements with Empire Strikes Brass, he brings his "soulful trumpet sounds" to Electro Lust—an Electronic Latin Funk project featuring Grammy-winning artists and members of Yo Mama's Big Fat Booty Band and The Fritz, where live beats meet brass and multicultural influences collide in ways that make you forget whether you're in Miami, Brazil, or Cuba.
This is trumpet playing that understands groove isn't just about rhythm—it's about creating spaces where melody becomes movement, where horn lines become conversations, and where every performance proves that Asheville's music scene thrives because players like Bradley know how to honor tradition while pushing it somewhere new.
