True, I am behind on reviews. But I am inspired here for two reasons. I soon will return to New Orleans first of all, and second of all I will get to see the great Trombone Shorty in Columbia on February 5, 2011 (which is REALLY great because it is a Saturday night!).
Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews' 2010 release Backatown could have been made in New Orleans as early as 1960. It is something that is that funky-butt style or early 70s Funky Meters or 21st Century hip-hop bounce all at once.
Opening with seamless New Orleans Funk crossed with progressive southern hip-hop bounce Hurricane Season sets the tone for this classic gumbo. There is such a taste for The Meters here that you would think they are the rhythm section, as they were for so much of New Orleans bands of the 60s, 70s, and 80s.
By the time you make your way to the post modern R & B of the song Something Beautiful (with backing vocals by Lenny Kravitz) you know this young trombone player has made something beautiful. Backatown is not only a Rosetta Stone of New Orleans music ranging from 50s Rock and Roll to neo-soul, he's made it accessible as hell! It is the best of New Orleans brass bands filtered through rap 'tude.
Each listen subsequently brings something new, for example, the likes of the song Neph feels like Jazz made in Egypt. And god in heaven, Andrews can arrange a brass ensemble as if the spirit of Ray Charles was hovering behind him. The hard-rocking Suburbia will blast you to your feet. Two-chord electric guitar and bass are the underbeat punch to Andrews' Spanish bull-fighting staccato trombone. It's fucking crazy!
The flavor and tones this young master possesses will someday read like other master's album catalogs...long, storied, scattered with classics that will be transcendent. He could pick any genre and do straight albums of whatever type of music and be considered brilliant. But Backatown has been chosen as a master's genre-bending sampler masterpiece. Allen Toussaint even lends piano on a track to solidify Andrews' street cred.
Don't leave home without this.
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