St. Patrick's Day spirit at Capitol. Washington, D.C., March 17. Sons of the auld sod in Congress, assisted by Benny Goodman, swing band leader, celebrated St. Patrick's Day with music today on the Capitol steps. Seen in the photo are, left to right - Senator Joseph O'Mahoney, Wyoming - Eunice Healy, dancer in Goodman's show - Benny Goodman, and Senator Claude Pepper of Florida

The tradition of brass bands in America starts in New Orleans, late 19th century. New Orleans brass bands could feature trumpets, trombones, clarinets, saxophones, sousaphones and percussion. The music played by these bands was a fusion between European military band music and African folk music brought to the Americas by west African slaves and the idiom played a significant role in the development of traditional jazz.