The Gangbe Brass Band was created in 1994 when 8 young jazz musicians, all from Cotonou-Benin, came together. Their option is to promote the originality of the music of Benin. The result is definitely both modern and traditional, as it mixes jazz and traditional Benin idioms.

They take traditional thythms, and invigorate them with jazz harmonies. The fusion reveals as much as possible of the musical tradition, while giving a western tone, to link the past and future. Their unusual instrumentation trumpet, trombone, and tuba, ajong witri West African percussion and vocals---is, to some extent, part of  West Africa's colonial legacy; French colonial officers imported brass instruments and trained local musicians to play European-style military and dance hall music. The Gangbe Brass Band's musical approach is respectful of tradition, and in harmony with their ancestors and culture. So far the band has released four albums, and tours extensively in Europe and North America.