Brass for Uncommon Times is an all-star collective of 40 top-notch brass and percussion performers who hail from the DMV (DC, Maryland, Virginia) and who are affiliated with the region’s most celebrated orchestras, military bands and universities. Directed by Brian Kaufman, their debut album features seven works composed between 2004 and 2022 that reflect the concerns and crises of our time. These include the pandemic, racial unrest, global conflict, reflections on the realities of war, the pervasive use of gun violence, pollution and social strife. The music oscillates between struggle and celebration and gives powerful glimpses of redemptive hope in our shared experiences, one that values civic identity and collective expression and offers a fanfare for those who shape our future for the better.