It seems increasingly difficult to bump up something truly fresh and different, musically speaking.Sometimes it can seem that everything possible has been done and all we're left with is new versions--whether good or bad--of something created previously.
When I went to see Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews perform at World Cafe Live in Philly the week before last, I wasn't sure what to expect. What little I'd heard of him had convinced me that he was one of the best--if not the best --younger generation musicians in New Orleans. I'd heard him mostly doing fairly traditional things or else playing in someone else's situation. He's a serious player on both trombone and trumpet but what would he do in 2009 with his own group? Even if he chose to play New Orleans roots music, that would not be a bad thing to me, given my love of New Orleans music.
When he and his group--trap drums, congas, guitar, bass, and two saxophonists (including one baritone)--kicked the first number I was put off at first. It was loud, in-your-face, and hitting with a stiff hard rock sensibility. Then Troy took his first solo on trombone--soloing like a rock lead guitarist--and somehow making the trombone into a totally contemporary lead instrument. The next number was in a similar vein and while I wasn't sure it was something I totally enjoyed, I had to admit that it was kind of ccool and smart. Then they loosened up and got into some funk; the horn players had some serious jazz chops. Troy started to sing, a classic New Orleans vocal style, without overwhelming power or chops but simply an infectious, delightfully phrased delivery of what was needed at the moment. Most of the the numbers were vocals--thought there were a couple of instrumentals--but each piece was a totally organic expression incorporating funk, rock, Latin, music, traditional New Orleans music, hip hop, jazz, and more. It all came together totally naturally--nothing was in the mix to make a point. Like a lot of New Orleans musicians, Troy and his band had the ability to absorb everything and re-mix it with a New Orleans sensibility, just as The Neville Brothers and The Meters before them had done. Troy and his band danced, goofed around, took ridiculous, jaw-dropping solos, and engaged the wildly joyous crowd in call-and-response. Late in the set, they kicked into Al Green's "Let's Stay Together" and Marvin Gaye's "Sexual Healing" and it just felt good...they did the material so naturally and with so much of their own personality, no one would think they were just "covering" these well-worn chestnuts. In short, it was a couple hours of pure music-making, spontaneous yet virtuosic, from the heart. It put a smile on everyone's face. Taking this aggregation on the road nationally now, Troy and the guys are going to be heard from. You're going to be hearing a lot about Troy Andrews a/k/a Trombone Shorty...if they come to your town, don't miss 'em!
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