TimeOut New York

After hearing Fight the Big Bull, it makes perfect sense why Sex Mob leader Steven Bernstein would invite its members to play during his Stone curation. The Richmond nonet, one of the more vibrant jazz ensembles we've heard in a long while, shares with Bernstein a boisterous, gutbucket sound and a penchant for fantastical reimaginings of the past. You can hear punk, funk, downtown-style jazz and soul—as well as a strong allegiance to Charles Mingus's earthy folk forms—in the compositions of guitarist-bandleader Matt White. We hope the group's set includes some of its poignant covers, such as the Band's "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down."


TimeOut Chicago

Hailing from Virginia, the beastly Fight the Big Bull comprises eight indefatigable jazzers alongside guitarist and composer Matt White. The brass- and percussion-heavy group reminds some of bizarro marching band Mucca Pazza, but the Big Bull's embrace of New Orleans second line, Afrobeat and early jazz reveals a level of training that sets them a notch above.