COMPOSERS: Trombone Shorty
LABELS: Verve
PERFORMER: Troy ‘Trombone Shorty’ Andrews (trombone etc), Pete Murano (guitar), Mike Ballard (bass), Joey Peebles (drums)
CATALOGUE NO: 273 6413
‘Trombone Shorty’ got his nickname when, aged four, he was in a New Orleans funeral band with a trombone as big as he was. After learning the second-line jazz tradition by busking, he was thrown in at the deep end of stadium rock, joining guitarist Lenny Kravitz on tour, aged 18.
This refreshing album is loaded with get up and go, from opener ‘Hurricane Season’ which packs a marching band punch over a funky rhythm section. There’s cinematic trip hop on the excellent title track, while the influence of mentor Kravitz has rubbed off – the guitarist even appears on a track.
It sails close to the rock wind, with the very heavy ‘The Cure’, but where this disc excels is with its riotous rumble tumble of brass.
Fellow New Orleanian Wynton Marsalis has praised the 23 year-old, saying ‘I’m his biggest fan’, while reports from a recent UK visit indicate he’s going down a storm. Neil McKim