Jazz concert review: Trombone Shorty at the Minnesota Zoo

When: July 8, 2010 • Where: Minnesota Zoo (“Music in the Zoo” Concert Series) • Who: Trombone Shorty, trombone and trumpet; Michael Ballard, bass; Pete Murano, guitar; Dan Oestreicher, baritone sax; Joey Peebles, drums; Dwayne Williams, percussion; Tim McFatter, tenor sax.

Trombone Shorty can play the trombone and the trumpet. He can sing, from low notes to a sweet falsetto, Marvin Gaye to Louis Armstrong. He can write songs and dance, channeling James Brown and Prince and Michael Jackson. He can hold a crowd in the palm of his hand and bring it to its feet. Is there anything he can’t do? Stand still, phone it in, and be boring.

Last night in the open-air Weesner Amphitheater at the Minnesota Zoo, Shorty and his band Orleans Avenue gave a 75-minute, nonstop, high-octane show of New Orleans jazz, pop, old-school soul, funk, R&B, and hip-hop, a savory, contemporary blend Shorty (real name Troy Andrews) calls “supafunkrock.”

The set would have been longer had bayou bluesman Tab Benoit, the opening act, gotten off the stage sooner. Benoit delivered some blistering tunes (like Albert Collins’ “Too Many Dirty Dishes”), but he overstayed. Not only did he play beyond 8:30 (shows at the Weesner start at 7:30 and end at the zoo’s 10:30 curfew), but he spent several minutes exhorting us to do something about what’s happening to New Orleans, our rights as citizens, the government, the National Guard, and more. Benoit is known as an environmental activist, but if he wanted to give a speech, he should have done it earlier and in fewer words.

Long, tall Shorty (who earned his nickname at age 4, when his trombone had several inches on him) came out in a black T-shirt with a sparkly fleur-de-lis on the back. His band formed a half-circle around him, and over the course of the set he went from one band member to another, urging them on (“Put a little chicken grease on that guitar!”). It’s a good-sized band, seven players, with big brass, big rhythms, and big energy. Along with Shorty’s trombone and trumpet, it includes tenor and baritone saxes, electric guitar, electric bass, drums, and congas. Shorty is just 24, and everyone else is around the same age; the old man of the band (bari sax player Oestreicher) is 27.

We hear “American Woman” (Shorty spent time in Lenny Kravitz's band), something called “Rats and Roaches Around My Home” (I think that’s the title; when I Google the lyrics, most hits lead to Orkin), and a long and playful trombone solo. Shorty sings “Shake your thing/Watch yourself/Show me what you’re working with” and by now many people are down in front doing just that. He’s riveting, charismatic, working the whole stage, and you can’t take your eyes off him. For “Hurricane Season” from his new CD Backatown (Verve, 2010), his first major-label recording and the reason he’s on tour, Shorty switches to trumpet and gets the crowd to shout “Hey!” Between and during songs, he twirls and poses, making beautiful arcs and curves with his lanky body. He hikes up his pants.

The band plays a tune with a reggae beat, then Shorty asks, “Can I take it old school for you?” A few notes and the whole mood changes: He’s singing “Let’s Get It On” and playing a sexy trumpet solo. This 24-year-old is making me think naughty thoughts. The sound builds in intensity, speeds up, the trumpet is on fire, and he’s dancing. He’s moonwalking. The crowd is wild. Marvin Gaye’s hit has morphed into the Rebirth Brass Band’s signature tune “I Feel Like Funkin’ It Up,” and Shorty is the Godfather of Soul. And just as suddenly, he’s singing the Isley Brothers’ “You make me want to shout.”

Two more songs from the CD—“One Night Only,” “Something Beautiful”—and time runs out. They close with a rousing “When the Saints Go Marching In” (during which Shorty sings like Louis Armstrong) and it’s all over. We catch him briefly on his way toward the CD sales/autographing table and mention that we’ll see him in Monterey. He says, “When’s that? Two weeks?” More like two months. When you're a fast-rising star, keeping schedules straight is what managers are for.

Point-and-shoot shots from last night's concert (SLRs aren't allowed at Music in the Zoo shows).

Benoit and his band, with guest Bernard Allison (son of Luther).

Trombone Shorty's band, and the setting.

Michael "Bass" Ballard throws himself on the ground and keeps playing as the band gathers around.

 Getting it on.

 Playing their a**es off.

P.S. The Weesner must be the only music venue in the world where, as you’re walking the curving paths leading toward it, you might hear a low, rumbling growl off to your left that makes you want to run for your life. I checked a zoo map later. Tiger.

Top photo of Trombone Shorty by Kirk Edwards.

Trombone Shorty brings a party to the Minnesota Zoo

Originally published at MinnPost.com, Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Let’s start with four facts about Trombone Shorty.

First, his real name is Troy Andrews.

Second, he’s called Trombone Shorty because he started playing trombone at age 4, when his instrument was longer than he was high. His older brother, James, saw him marching in a street parade, gave him the sobriquet, and it stuck. Today, at 24, Troy stands just under 6 feet, more Tally than Shorty.

Third, he plays all kinds of music — jazz, funk, hip-hop, fusion, rock, R&B. He calls it “supafunkrock.” Born and raised in the Treme (tre-MAY) neighborhood of New Orleans, still passionately attached to his hometown and rooted in its rhythms, he’s a child of the 2000s and a musical omnivore. He has already performed with Lenny Kravitz, Aerosmith, U2, the Neville Brothers, Green Day, and a Marsalis or two. He also plays the trumpet, keyboards, drums, and other percussion instruments, and he sings.

Fourth, 2010 is his breakout year. He signed with Verve and released his first major-label CD (his sixth overall), “Backatown,” in April; it spent nine weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz Album chart. He performed on “Good Morning America,” wowed the crowd at Bonnaroo, and appeared on the “Late Show with David Letterman.” He had a cameo in the HBO series “Treme.” His touring schedule is brutal. He’ll alight in Apple Valley between dates at the Montreal Jazz Festival and a concert in Connecticut, after which he’ll carom from Wisconsin to Colorado, back to Quebec, and later Japan and Brazil. New dates are being added all the time. I hope he doesn’t have a cat.
Here he is on Letterman. (And, for historical interest, here he is at our own State Fair in 2008, tearing down the Leinie Lodge.)

The sound of Shorty and his band, Orleans Avenue — Pete “Freaky Pete” Murano on guitar, Michael “Bass” Ballard on bass, Joey “In and Out” Peebles on drums, Dwayne “Big D” Williams on percussion, Dan “Uncle Potato Chip” Oestreicher on baritone sax, and Tim “No Known Nickname” McFatter on tenor sax — is feel-good music, high-energy, street-gritty and fun. Most of the songs on “Backatown” are originals; the only cover is Allen Toussaint’s “On Your Way Down,” which Shorty completely revamped. Toussaint judged Shorty’s version a bridge between old and new, gave it the thumbs up, and recorded it with him.

It’s going to be a party at the Minnesota Zoo’s outdoor amphitheater this Thursday, a great place for a party as long as the weather holds. Shorty will play, sing, dance, and do his best to make us sing and dance along with him. He’ll probably perform a showy solo using circular breathing, the musical equivalent of an endless spin in figure skating.

And the ladies will love him. Shorty is making the trombone sexy. Not that Robin Eubanks hasn’t already done a pretty good job of that, but “sexy” is not a word most people think of when they hear the word “trombone.” In jazz especially, sexy usually means trumpet (Miles Davis, for example) or saxophone (James Carter, for instance). The trombone is the viola of jazz instruments, the butt of jokes. (What do you call a guy who knows how to play a trombone and doesn’t? A gentleman.)
I happen to really like the trombone, so I’ve been interested in Shorty since I first saw him live at a New Orleans jazz club in early 2009. There, he was part of a band backing Irvin Mayfield, just playing his instrument and doing a fine job of it. Now he’s a star on his own. It’s nice when that happens.

Trombone Shorty, Thursday, July 8, Minnesota Zoo Amphitheater. Doors at 7 p.m., music at 7:30 ($28). Louisiana blues guitarist Tab Benoit opens. All ages, rain or shine. Tickets online, by phone (1-800-745-3000), at any Ticketmaster location, or at the Electric Fetus.

Tip: Can’t make Trombone Shorty’s show? Head to the Artists’ Quarter on Wednesday night for a double bill of bones. At 9 p.m., it’s Valves Meet Slide, with Brad Bellows on valve trombone, Dave Graf on slide trombone, Chris Lomheim on piano, Gordy Johnson on bass, and Mac Santiago on drums. Next up, Locally Damaging Winds — the first group plus two more trombones, Michael Nelson and Wade Clark, resulting in that rare jazz bird, a four-trombone front line. Artists’ Quarter, 408 St. Peter Street (in the basement of the Hamm Building), St. Paul. Wednesday, July 7, 9 p.m. ($5). 

Read a review of the concert here.