"Evgeniya's Dessert" is a bright, happy single from Street Beat Brass' latest album, "Down the Block." It's the kind of lasting memory that becomes music, opening with the ensemble's New Orleans-inspired brass sound, blending jazz, funk, soul, and contemporary instrumentation.

The story behind the song gives a personal undercurrent to its cheerfulness. Jeff Fairbanks, leader of Street Beat Brass and a New York Foundation for the Arts Fellow, based "Evgeniya's Dessert" on a memorable dinner party he attended during his graduate school years. Fairbanks and his wife were visiting friends and their Bulgarian host, Evgeniya, who whipped up a delicious traditional meal that left an impression.

That experience is the creative spark behind a track that embodies Street Beat Brass's adventurous spirit. The ensemble uses its signature sound as a springboard to explore a broader range of music, rather than sticking to the traditional brass band setup.

"Evgeniya's Dessert" has a vibrant identity, fusing jazz, funk, and soul, and contemporary instrumentation allows the sound to go beyond expectations. The result is a joyous and imaginative liberation, true to the joyous memory that inspired it. Street Beat Brass turns a memorable dinner into a colorful brass celebration of food, friendship, culture, and musical exploration.