Al Chez and the Brothers of Funk will headline the DCI 40th Anniversary 'Grand Reunion' after-party bash

There's sure to be a "whole lot of rhythm goin' round" when drum corps and television personality Al Chez and his Brothers of Funk Big Band tear the roof off Indy's all-new Crane Bay event center for the sizzling Grand Reunion after-party on Friday, Aug. 10, as part of the DCI World Championships. The event, billed as "the largest drum corps reunion party in history," will cap-off an emotional evening which will bring together hundreds of drum corps alumni representing a variety of corps spanning the colorful 40-year history of Drum Corps International. "We're thrilled to have Al Chez and the Brothers of Funk Big Band join us for what is already shaping up to be a unbelievably spectacular day for drum corps participants, fans and alumni alike," said Susan Kuehnhold, Director of Events for Drum Corps International. "The special events planned for Friday evening of Championships Week will be second only to the remarkable performances taking place on the field of competition. After observing Indy's "other" big event (Super Bowl XLVI) earlier this year, we're pulling out all the stops to make sure that the Grand Reunion and the after-party will talked about for years to come." Al Chez has spent a lifetime immersed in the drum corps activity. Starting at the age of nine with a New Jersey corps his father helped start, he went on to spend 13 years as a member of the Garfield Cadets followed by stints with the all-age Bushwackers and Reading Buccaneers. Since his drum corps performance days came to an end, he has been an active staff member with several junior and all-age groups, working since 2000 with the Crossmen. In 2012 he will return to the San Antonio corps as a brass and music programming consultant. Joining the CBS Orchestra full-time in 1997, Chez has performed on the Late Show with David Letterman, in addition to gigging with a diverse array of artists including Tower of Power, the Robert Cray Band, Spyro Gyra and Jon Bon Jovi. Chez helped start the Brothers of Funk Big Band in 2009 with two Rochester, N.Y.-area music teachers. His ensemble carries a roster of more than 20 professional-caliber musicians, and has played a number of high-profile shows in recent years including the Syracuse Jazz Festival. The celebration will commence at Crane Bay immediately following the DCI World Championship Semifinals competition at neighboring Lucas Oil Stadium, located less than a football field's length away in downtown Indy. The impressive new 18,000 square foot multipurpose facility recently played host to the Rolling Stone Magazine Rock Weekend bash, which took place as part of Indianapolis' Super Bowl festivities in February. Learn more about the Grand Reunion and register to attend today. Learn more about Al Chez and the Brothers of Funk Big Band on Facebook.