Trombone Shorty and friends uncork titanic torrent of brass, dancing, musicianship, fun

The lengthy New Orleans jazz/funk showcase Wednesday at Meijer Gardens boasted impressive Big Easy faves: Trombone Shorty, Galactic, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, New Breed Brass Band and guests.

 

Calder City was temporarily transformed to a Crescent City-level of musical magic on Wednesday evening when Trombone Shorty’s Voodoo Threauxdown blew into Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park for a well-received extravaganza of New Orleans musicians and Big Easy staples.

The sold-out, mid-week spectacle featured four bands, with musicians old and young bouncing easily between acts and sharing space in that special way that New Orleans artists seem to foster with one another.

Up-and-comers — including kicky show openers New Breed Brass Band — melded alongside jazz stalwarts such as Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Kermit Ruffins, Walter Wolfman Washington and Cyril Neville. Jazz/jam/funk band Galactic and headliner Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews and his Orleans Avenue krewe anchored a four-hour-plus, 30-something-person lineup that may qualify as one of the most fun assemblages in recent Meijer Gardens history.

It was unrelenting, upbeat and just a helluva a good time from the moment the “parade” kicked off at 5:30 p.m. to the bittersweet end.

There are times — when I’m “on duty” at a concert — where my task-oriented, uptight “Music Critic” persona takes over. I diligently scribble out chicken-scratch notes on neatly folded pieces of paper, carefully avoiding fellow concert-goers’ wild, beer-soaked gesticulations as I studiously notate each song so that I may later report an accurate set list, stage banter, set times, etc.

Then there are the times when my pure, unadulterated “Music Lover” persona does the equivalent of stuffing “The Critic” into the trunk and taking over the wheel. This was one of those times.

SO MUCH TALENT, SO MUCH SPIRIT, SO MUCH FUN

There are no careful notes on who performed what songs and in which order the songs were performed, nor precise details on set duration or between-song commentary (though, suffice to say, Andrews’ limited banter consisted of praise for Grand Rapids and our collective ability to party. Good job, audience!). There was simply too much happening to worry about my carefully folded and still mostly blank pieces of paper.

Too much noise. Too much dancing. Too much spirit. Too much talent. Too much music.

There are a few key things to know for those unfortunate enough to miss the show. It was interesting to gauge how much stronger Andrews and his band have gotten in the 14-ish months since they last performed in Grand Rapids. That’s certainly saying something, as the 32-year-old multi-instrumentalist/singer/actor/philanthropist blew the metaphorical lid off the roof-less venue in 2017. His return this week to the Meijer Gardens stage managed to somehow top that, with an even sharper, more confident performance and the added textural elements of numerous special guests and additional instrumentation.

While Andrews takes his stage name for the trombone he so often plays, it was a single, sustained, “Is he still going? How can he possibly survive this?” trumpet note he held for what seemed like an eternity but was probably closer to two(?) minutes. Of course, two minutes is an eternity in that situation and it was a moment that clearly illustrated the elite level at which we were dealing.

It’s a category of athleticism-meets-musicianship that was on display throughout the evening and with every single act, not the least of which was Stanton Moore, the outstanding drummer for Galactic.

Andrews and company — including various members from all bands — closed the evening in perhaps the most understated and natural way they could. The encore was a simple second line rendition of that familiar old New Orleans classic, “When the Saints Go Marching In.” Musicians marched down off the stage, snaked single file up the amphitheater’s hill, and returned, making their way through a clapping and singing audience.

The sterile environment of a bougie-but-beautiful outdoor amphitheater will never be mistaken for the history-rich, whiskey-and-all-other-fluids-soaked Frenchmen and Bourbon streets.

There were no beignets, beads or bayous Wednesday night, but for a few hours, West Michigan fans were able to experience a sliver of what makes The City That Care Forgot such a special place for music lovers.

PHOTO GALLERY:
Trombone Shorty, Preservation Hall Jazz Band
New Breed Brass Band, Galactic at Meijer Gardens
Photos by Anthony Norkus

Copyright 2018, Spins on Music LLC