Independent Lens

Brothers Hypnotic

The brotherhood of the Hypnotic Brass Ensemble is literal. Through an unorthodox upbringing, the eight boys were forged into a band as children by their father, Chicago jazz maverick Phil Cohran. Now as young men, making their way on the streets of New York and in the music business, with stardom on the horizon, they must test their father's ideals against their own brotherly vision.

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30s

Not-always-willing subjects of a utopian family experiment, the eight men of the Hypnotic Brass Ensemble were forged into a band as kids by their father, jazz maverick Phil Cohran. Now making their way on the streets and in the music business, they test their father's ideals against their own brotherly vision.

  • Brothers Hypnotic: The Principle of Simplicity: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Brothers Hypnotic: The Principle of Simplicity

    S15 E15 - 1m 52s

    In this excerpt from the Independent Lens documentary Brothers Hypnotic, the brothers discuss how their father, Phil Cohran, taught them the importance of long tones in playing horns, to play one note as steady as possible, “the principle of simplicity.” We also seem them playing their horns outside, magically.

  • Brothers Hypnotic: Clef the Trombonist: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Brothers Hypnotic: Clef the Trombonist

    S15 E15 - 1m 1s

    This excerpt from the Independent Lens documentary Brothers Hypnotic, Seba aka “Clef,” tells us how he started playing the trombone when he was 4 years old, taught by his father Phil Cohran. He demonstrates how he learned to properly use the horn’s mouthpiece as a boy, until he was able to achieve even tone.

  • Brothers Hypnotic: An Unyielding Commitment to Excellence: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Brothers Hypnotic: An Unyielding Commitment to Excellence

    S15 E15 - 1m 10s

    In this excerpt from the Independent Lens documentary Brothers Hypnotic, the band brothers recite the series of commitments and values which preoccupy them. We then see several of them dutifully practicing their horns separately.

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