Ever heard an artist hold a note for over three minutes? On a trumpet? While circular breathing? Just because they could? Well, that’s exactly what Trombone Shorty did while dazzling the crowd at the Rooftop of Pier 17 on Wednesday, July 23.
Born in New Orleans, Trombone Shorty brings the pride of his city wherever he goes. Born Troy Andrews, he started playing jazz at 4 years old – joining Bo Diddley on stage at the New Orleans Jazz Festival. By the time he was a teenager, Lenny Kravitz hired him to play the Electric Church World Tour. With a combination of jazz, hip-hop, and blues, his shows are known for being energetic and showcasing his diverse musical styles.
Pier 17 is in the middle of its summer showcase, with Wednesday the 23rd’s show being just one of many at the six-year-old venue. Sitting on the East River right off Beekman Street, the venue provides audiences with beautiful music and a panoramic view of some of New York’s most well-known sights including: the Williamsburg Bridge, the Empire State Building, and the top of 1 World Trade Center.
Special guest JJ Grey & Mofro opened for Trombone Shorty on the 23rd, returning to Pier 17 four years after opening for Blues Traveler. The set included songs from their latest album, such as “Top of the World” and “Rooster,” as well as older songs like “Circles,” “Lochloosa” and “Higher You Climb.” The band quickly warmed the New York crowd up with their “swamp rock” sound from Jacksonville, Florida – a unique blend of Southern soul, blues, rock and funk.
A couple of the best moments were when JJ began “Lochloosa” with a soulful harmonica solo, and when he added in lyrics during “Top of the World” in reference in to being on top of Pier 17.
The band members included Pete Winders on guitar, Eric Brigmond on keys, Dennis Marion on trumpet, Craig Barnette on drums and Todd Smallie on bass.
After JJ Grey & Mofro finished their set, the sun began to go down over the crowd. Trombone Shorty’s Orleans Avenue band burst onto stage right after sunset, developing a groove from the get-go and creating space for Trombone Shorty to emerge from the wings with his eponymous trombone in one hand and trumpet in the other.
If the crowd thought they were in for a typical second-line band, they were wrong. As Trombone Shorty said, New York City, “we’re coming to party tonight”. And party is exactly what they did.
Shifting from jazz, to rock, to blues, to hip-hop, it seemed like the band couldn’t stand still. Often, that would be a problem, with so many different styles and tempo changes causing clashes and chaos. However, the band was able to pull it off, using their massive stage presence to bring together diverse musical styles and highlight each member of the band.
One of the most unexpected and delightful moments for the audience came as Trombone Shorty, along with BK Jackson and Dan Oestreicher plaid in a tight circle. Whild trading notes and seemingly riffing off of each other, the three horn players ended up playing refrains from Black Sabbath’s “Iron Man.”
Even more surprising was when the entire band suddenly shifted into a bachata-esque number with guitarist John Maesta telling the audience “sacarla [telephono] y bailar… solamente por ustedes la única ‘trombone shorrrrttyy’ – otherwise known as “put your [phone] away and dance… only for you all, the one and only Trombone Shorty.”
But it wouldn’t be New Orleans Jazz without some second line thrown in to the mix. Towards the end of the set, Trombone Shorty asked the crowd, “How many of y’all been down to a second line ?” Shorty then began playing multiple Mardi Gras favorites and had the crowd eating out of his hand during “When the Saints Come Marching In.”
Trombone Shorty and the Orleans Avenue band set out to bring a party to New York – and that’s just what they did. Not only did they entertain the packed audience with brilliant music, but their stage performance and energy brought so much to the show. From the lighting cues that highlighted each performer during their solos, to choreographed dances, to the truly enormous smiles each of the performers had the whole time. The band looked like it was having the time of its life on stage and with each other. Oh, and that note trombone shorty held – he did it for more than three minutes just because he could.
If you get a chance to see Trombone Shorty and the Orleans Avenue band in the future, do it. It’ll make you see New Orleans Jazz in a whole new way.
Reporting and Photos by Aidan Lukomnik and Grace Kim
→ Continue reading at NYS Music
