Concert Review: Trombone Shorty, Nov 17, Opera House

Last Thursday Trombone Shorty played the Opera House as part of Toronto’s Nujazz Festival with support from the Toronto Jazz festival. Growing up in New Orleans’ treme neighbourhood, Troy Andrews a.k.a. Trombone Shorty has taken his jazz roots and fused them with funk and soul to create something that’s, well, pretty badass.

It was like watching Kanye play if Kanye knew how to play the trombone.

Having recently started watching HBO’s Treme, I’ve only just come to learn about this vibrant part of New Orleans culture. The show is a fascinating look into a post-Katrina New Orleans and Trombone Shorty himself even appears in few episodes. It’s clear that music is deeply ingrained into the fabric of New Orleans, and it’s just as deeply ingrained in her musicians.

It’s hard to describe how effective this fusion of jazz, soul and funk really is. There’s no mistaking the fact that band was tight. However it was woven even tighter with Troy’s intense trombone and trumpet playing. The man knows how to play. He knows he can dig in with the best and that gives him some serious bravado. It was like watching Kanye play if Kanye knew how to play the trombone. By the second tune the audience was hooked. Although I probably could have done without some of the vocal tunes, the sheer intensity of the instrumentals made this show kick ass.


Trombone Shorty ~ Backatown by verveforecast

Posted on by Mark in Concerts, Toronto Jazz Festival