Brass on the Block, a Brand-New Sound in Phnom Penh and a Special Concert on November 15, 2025

Editorial team
3 hours ago
4 min read

A brand-new sound in Phnom Penh! On the 15th of this month starting at 7:00 PM, Chew & Bash at the Coconut Club on Koh Pich will host the debut of an entirely new musical group made up of twelve musicians with a very brassy sound: Brass On The Block.

You read that right, there are twelve on stage, including eight brass players!

Brass On The Block revives the festive spirit of the “block party,” a family and friendly celebration originating from urban culture in the 1990s: an impromptu gathering of people from all walks of life around a barbecue, with good street music offered by a collective of musicians and deejays.

The program of this Brass On The Block Party is no exception to the rule:

Opening act, DVND, a gospel, R&B, and soul singer recently arrived in Phnom Penh, with a powerful and moving voice;
Brass On The Block for a purely groovy show mixing various musical styles (Cajun, Latino, Funk, and Khmer Pop) and diverse guests (SK1LZ, a young Khmer deejay and rapper, as well as the Cuban artist Néstor García Joa);
DJ Niko Yu, one of the best deejays in the country, to keep you dancing very late, accompanied by some members of Brass On The Block for a jam session.

In short, it won’t be just a simple show, but three performances in one!

Brass on the block: when passion turns a dream into reality

Thanks to the hard work of French producer-composer-arranger-musician-deejay Phil Javelle, in collaboration with Australian composer and trumpeter Cameron Smith and Indian rapper-singer and master of ceremonies Gaurav Raul, aka Initial G, Brass On The Block was able to put this show together.

The dedication of the musicians transformed this dream into reality, their shared passion motivating them to master the sophisticated arrangements written by Smith and Javelle, thus giving a polish to historical masterpieces.

No fewer than twelve artists invite you to share the powerful sound of brass and the infectious rhythms. Under the musical direction of Cameron Smith, this very lively and generous group transmits all its energy. Next to Initial G, the Khmer rapper SK1LZ will make his public debut at this concert.

Smith, on trumpet and vocals, leads the brass section: Frenchmen Raphaël Biamonti and Patrick Singeot on alto saxophones, Egyptian Noah Al-Malt and Dutch Bandi Van Kooij on tenor saxophones, Japanese Mariko Fukao and Cuban Darvel Martinez on trombones, as well as American Layne Todd on tuba. The solid rhythm section is provided by Frenchmen Gaby Courroux on drums and Phil Javelle on keyboards and vocals (he also plays alto saxophone, clarinet, and percussion). Danish and Korean Niko Yu adds his touch on the turntables.

The band composition shows diversity in every respect, and in the purest spirit of the “block party,” they will gladly welcome new members, hoping several Cambodians will join the project. The release of two video clips sparked enthusiastic reactions among Cambodian and expatriate communities. While their version of “Ya Move Ya Lose” revisits this funk standard made in New Orleans, the cover of “Jeas Cyclo,” a timeless hit from the golden age of Khmer rock and roll, was hailed as a new urban anthem.

jeas cyclo, an anthem to the love of cambodia

A project like Brass On The Block had to pay tribute to the golden age of Khmer rock and roll. The psychedelic funk, fusion vibrations, and garage rock spirit of Phnom Penh in the 1960s and 1970s are once again roaming the streets around Central Market thanks to this cover of "Jeas Cyclo," a major song by Yol Aularong.

Asked, Smith and Javelle explained that it was Initial G who encouraged them to rework this immortal hit. Raised in Cambodia and speaking Khmer perfectly, the rapper had sensed the musicians' desire to celebrate the bravery, solidarity, and generosity of the Cambodian people, values they consider essential for the country.

It was decided that these qualities were perfectly illustrated by the association that groups and protects the interests of the cycle rickshaw drivers, noble couriers who still roam the streets of Phnom Penh perched on their rickshaws. The humor of the song, faithful to the spirit of Brass On The Block, made it obvious to use a real fleet of cycle rickshaws for the video shoot at Koh Pich, with Initial G at the helm.

Phil Javelle, subtly harmonizing the brass riffs and melody, had the idea to include an excerpt from the global disco hit “Celebration,” to which he added a new rap section written and performed by the talented SK1LZ, a disciple of Initial G.

The result of this incredible mix of blended musical influences is a unique version of this classic, already unanimously praised by Cambodians and expatriates. The TikTok profile of Brass On The Block has thus reached sixty thousand followers in less than a week!

Each musician was deeply touched by this recognition and expressed their gratitude to the cycle rickshaw drivers for their enthusiastic participation in the shoot.

the signature of an experienced producer

Since his first steps in the Kingdom of Cambodia in 2009, Phil Javelle has been involved in numerous multicultural collaborations. His years of experience as a music producer bring a touch of Western style to Cambodian songs, whether old or contemporary.

Whether as a guest in an independent production such as Songkites in 2014 (which revealed artists Nikki Nikki and Jimmy Kiss on the international scene) as a musician and arranger, lending his jazz and R&B signature to the hit “Baby I’m Sorry,” or more recently a partner of Kai or Kwan on stage, or arranger of Sophia Kao and M-Fatt’s concerts, all rising stars of the local new generation, Javelle has convinced a wide audience thanks to his expertise, versatility, and ability to bring together diverse cultures to generate fruitful collaborations.

After this demanding production of the title “Jeas Cyclo,” there is no doubt that Javelle and Brass On The Block will continue to amaze Phnom Penh audiences with original musical choices, unexpected concert venues, striking flash mobs, and viral videos. Do not miss their premiere on November 15, you will want more after seeing them live.