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“Basically, I was born into the music,” says trombonist Corey Henry, a member of one of New Orleans’ noted musical families. His grandfather was drummer Chester Jones, a regular at the renowned traditional jazz club Preservation Hall. His uncle is the much-loved Treme Brass Band leader, drummer Benny Jones and his father, Oswald “Bo Monkey” Jones is a fine-steppin’ grand marshal. Henry is perhaps best recognized around the world as the sweet toned trombonist with trumpeter Kermit Ruffins & the Barbecue Swingers. The two have stood side-by-side in little joints in New Orleans neighborhoods and festivals as far away as Japan and Australia. It’s Henry’s ‘bone sliding on most of the Swingers CDs. “Me and Kermit are like brothers,” he declares, a sentiment that rings out during their musical endeavors. Long before he teamed up with the gregarious trumpeter, however, Henry, 31, was already leading his own group, the Lil’ Rascals Brass Band. Like so many other eager young musicians, he headed to Jackson Square to soak in the knowledge of the amiable Anthony “Tuba Fats” Lacen. The legendary big man of the tuba encouraged the 10-year-old and suggested he put a band together. The Lil’ Rascals have been together now for 21 years, challenging second liners with its hot beats. The ensemble has released two fine though very diverse albums. In 1998, the Rascals demonstrated their respect for traditional brass band music on We Shall Walk Through the Streets of the City that includes such classic numbers as “Paul Bararin’s Second Line.” The flip side of the band’s style jumps on 2001’s hot contemporary disc Buck It Like a Horse, a disc filled with sizzling original material. The trombonist has also recorded and played with the Dirty Dozen, Treme and New Birth brass bands as well as trumpeter Derrick Shezbie. In 2002 Henry started a new venture establishing the group the Young Fellas. While the Rascals remain his mobile, street beatin’ crew, the Young Fellas plug in an electric guitar and bass and employ a full drum set with Henry’s trombone plus sax and trumpet on the front line. It’s a funky ensemble that’s comfortable moving from jazz, to R&B and hip-hop with an occasional visit to the second line brass style. Plans are for the Young Fellas to release its debut album in late 2009. “I guess I just wanted to explore something different – do some of my own material and share some of my own ideas,” Henry says of the freedoms offered by the Young Fellas. It is the group he’s has been playing with most often since Hurricane Katrina scattered musicians across the country. Most of the Fellas are presently based in Houston while Henry moves between it, New Orleans and New York. “We’re living on the road now,” explains the trombonist, who hopes to return home soon. “There’s something special about New Orleans that you can’t get anywhere else.” Corey Henry learned his craft absorbing all that veteran New Orleans musicians had to offer. Even as a kid, he’d spend hours listening to trombonists like Trummy Young, J.J. Johnson, Al Grey and Jack Teagarden and hails Fred Wesley as being a special influence. No matter the musical style, these masters remain with Henry contributing to his wonderfully uncommon sophistication and tone. “music has been my whole life,” Henry says with sincerity. “It’s brought me a lot of happiness, comfort and fun. It’s always a work in progress.”