Chad O'Brien
Trombone
Mauriece Hamilton
Saxophone
Ryan Nottingham
Trumpet
The Bad Ass Brass
The Bad Ass Brass is the best horn section for recording, touring, and arranging in the area. Forming their exciting musical voyage of artistic discovery in 2008, they’ve used constant collaboration and experimental sound exploration to shape their signature sound.
In the music world, there’s no standing still. You must constantly strive to evolve and tour with the purpose of offering something unique to devoted fans and followers. They find inspiration wherever they look and channel whatever moves them into their music.
Ryan Nottingham – Trumpet
Ryan has performed throughout the globe in various ensembles. He is at home in a symphony orchestra, wind ensemble, brass band, chamber group, Broadway pit, big band, jazz combo, recording studio, on stage, and as a soloist. He has performed with Aretha Franklin, Jerry Lewis, The Commodores, Todd Rundgren, Jason Scheff, Spoon, Michael McDonald, Hanson, Kid Rock, Boyz II Men, 4U, The Louisville Orchestra, Orchestra Kentucky, The Owensboro Symphony, The Don Krekel Orchestra, Cosa Seria, The Velcro Pygmies, Brass Band of Louisville, Cardinal Brass Band, LouOrleans Brass Band, Orchestra Enigmatic, Chamber Winds Louisville, The Bad Ass Brass, The Newbees, All You Need Is Love, and recently appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon with Love Jones.
Ryan employs teaching methodologies from the following schools of brass pedagogy: Chicago, New York, Paris, Berlin, Adam, Stamp, and Gordon. His primary teachers include Michael Tunnell, Jerry Amend, Peter Bond, Roger Ingram, Mark Zauss, Jeff Purtle. and Tom Hooten. Ryan holds a B.A. in Music Performance from Indiana University.
CHAD O'BRIEN – BONE
Chad O’Brien is a trombonist with an incredibly diverse performance career. He’s shared the stage with a wide array of ensembles, from the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra to the Eastman Wind Ensemble — the Gil Evans Centennial Project to internationally acclaimed Earth, Wind & Fire. These days, you can find Chad blasting off with space-funk sensation New Gunk, ripping razor-sharp horn lines with the Bad Ass Brass, or performing locally with the Louisville Jazz Initiative, a nonprofit he co-founded committed to culturally grounded jazz performance and education. Outside of music, Chad works as a Software Engineer for Switcher, Inc. and tirelessly pursues his many passions: tinkering, farming, volunteering with local mutual aid organizations, and spending time with his wife, Emily, and their many animals.
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Chad graduated from the University of Louisville in 2019 with Master of Music degrees in Trombone and Jazz Performance; his undergraduate studies earned him a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies (Trombone) and Music Education from the Eastman School of Music in 2012.
Mauriece Hamilton – Sax
Mauriece Hamilton has been playing saxophone and things that look like saxophones since the dawn of time. In fact, he was part of the first-ever wedding band where the bride somehow requested Uptown Funk, Brick House, and Celebrate eons before they were written.
Mauriece enjoys spending his time working on cars and his woman, Deborah. She is the light of his life and is always right about everything. She's super amazing with incredible skin and she is so patient. Do something nice for Deborah and send her your favorite scat tunes or Sade hit!
Performance Partners
Bad Ass Brass isn't just a catchy name – it's our mission statement. And we've got the experience to back it up! Here are just a few of the incredible bands we have had the fortune to join onstage.
Mike Smith
Trombone
Mike Smith is a trombonist and arranger based in Louisville, KY. He has been performing professionally for over 25 years, and has shared the stage with a diverse list of artists. He was recently featured on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon playing with Love Jones and the Bad Ass Brass.
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Mike is also a talented arranger offering selections for horn section, brass quintet, and pep band.
Matthew Anklan
Trumpet
Matthew Anklan currently serves as the Professor of Trumpet and Director of Jazz at Wright State University where he conducts the jazz ensemble and teaches applied trumpet.
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He is the Lead Trumpet player of the acclaimed Columbus Jazz Orchestra under the direction of Byron Stripling. Anklan is also a founding member and Lead Trumpeter of the Cincinnati Contemporary Jazz Orchestra. Anklan has also served as a regular section extra and principal/lead trumpet with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and Cincinnati Pops and appears on several recordings, including the 2024 release American Dreams.
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Derek Siebert
Saxophone
Derek Siebert holds Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Music Education and Master of Music in saxophone degrees from the University of Louisville. Derek is currently the music teacher at St. Matthews Elementary school and has taught in the Jefferson County Public School system for over two decades. He was awarded the Outstanding Elementary Music Educator Award in 2016 and the Kentucky PTA Elementary Teacher of the Year in 2009. Outside of his school responsibilities he is quite active performing with several musicians and groups in Louisville.
