Monday, November 18, 2013

Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue

It wasn't the usual crowd at the Ace of Spades last night. There was no barrier separating the crowd from the stage, there was no crowdsurfing and no mosh pit. Extra seating was set out around the floor. People were dressed up, not down, the women carried handbags, and the men were dashing. The age range was on the higher end of the scale... which really surprised me, given that Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews is so darn young. Young, and extremely talented. Young, and very hard-working.

ALISON TOON: Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue &emdash; Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue: live in Sacramento 2013

Yes, I really was surprised that there were fewer younger members of the audience. Why? Because this music is young. It's energetic. It's real and it's street-smart. They cover classics and make them supafunkarocking all over again. They make jazz/funk/blues/rock brand new.


ALISON TOON: Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue &emdash; Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue: live in Sacramento 2013

Guitar, saxes, drums, trombone and/or trumpet. Very happy energetic drummer. Great rapport between all of the band members. They were having a lot of fun, and so was the house-full of people!

ALISON TOON: Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue &emdash; Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue: live in Sacramento 2013
And wow.... We were treated to the longest sustained note I have ever heard a brass player voice. It must have been circular breathing... either that, or TS is training to swim the ocean. Underwater. I was ready to faint, automatically holding my breath in an empathetic and unconscious hour. (It felt like an hour. It might have been five minutes. It was definitely an age, as far as a wind instrument goes.)
ALISON TOON: Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue &emdash; Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue: live in Sacramento 2013

People were dancing. People were enjoying the very, very good "supafunkrock" that this band delivers. Fifth visit to Sacramento so far? Definitely should not be the last. Great show. Really really good.

See and hear more on the band's website: http://tromboneshorty.com/  Catch up with them later on the tour.  Latest album, "Say That To Say This", is available now.

For many more photos from the show, see the gallery: http://alisontoon.com/tromboneshorty

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