In a world of war, poverty, ecological disasters, dissent, and rips in the fabric of society, Marvin Gaye found himself asking the heartfelt question "What's Going On?" in 1971. In 2007, with the same questions looming even larger, the Dirty Dozen Brass Band has borrowed on Gaye's inspiration to create a crowning achievement in their own career, which spans more than three decades of innovation and leadership in New Orleans music and beyond. Mixing vibrant instrumental pieces with simmering, scorching vocal numbers, the Dirty Dozen have translated the songs from "What's Going On?" into their own musical language. The new music is infused with the band's own experiences with Hurricane Katrina, the subsequent massive flooding, and the devastation of their homes and communities.