With Orleans Avenue in tow, the popular singer and trombonist brought jazz, funk and fun to Meijer Gardens on Monday. The review and photo gallery at Local Spins.
Triumphant Horns: Trombone Shorty brought the party to Meijer Gardens on Monday night. (Photo/Joshua Tufts)
SCROLL DOWN FOR PHOTO GALLERY
Support our coverage of
West Michigan's music scene
“Reliable” may not be the sexiest way to describe a musician and his reputation with audiences, but New Orleans’ trombone/trumpet player Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews is just that.
Consistently excellent, persistently energetic and reliably surrounded by an above-average collection of fellow jazz/funk musicians, Andrews has time and again delivered top-tier performances for audiences at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park (and well beyond).
Making a welcome return Monday evening to (yet another) sold-out show at the popular outdoor venue’s summer concert series, Andrews hit his usual marks:
Big Easy party vibes with a cadre of Crescent City players? Check.
A 90-ish-minute set with a fluid rhythm, and where songs and medleys blend one into the other, with sparse but upbeat stage banter (“We love you Grand Rapids! We always feel like we’re coming home, here.”) and barely a minute to catch a breath between numbers? Check.
Inviting, Engaging: Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue. (Photo/Joshua Tufts)
Speaking of breath … an impossibly long, sustained trumpet blast from Andrews that reaffirms — just in case you’ve been wondering — yup, he’s still got that out-of-the-ordinary breath control thing happening? Check.
Lively crowd with plenty of dancing, clapping and singing along? Check.
Andrews and a few bandmates coming down from the stage and playing while strolling through the audience? Check.
With crowd favorites such as “Here Come the Girls” and “Hurricane Season,” Andrews and team, as always, gave the fans what they asked for: a well-executed, engaging evening of culture and entertainment.
It’s an ultimate sign of respect to the audience for Andrews and his band to musically deliver, year after year (not to mention the additional graciousness of signing autographs from the stage, and shaking fans’ hands). In a post-COVID economy where everything is so damned expensive, for most folks, a night out at a concert is an investment.
A lackluster performance just adds insult to the injury of having to shell out $18 for an ever-shrinking pour of boxed Chardonnay followed by a surge-price Uber ride home. All that to say: A Trombone Shorty show is always worth that investment.
Talented, charming Nashville singer-songwriter Devon Gilfillian kicked off a picture-perfect night with a 30-minute set highlighted by the anthemic title track from his 2024 album, “Love You Anyway.”
Up Next at Meijer Gardens: Tuesday Evening Music Club features Djangophonique and Sweet Adelines at 7 p.m. today (Tuesday); Bonnie Raitt performs at 7 p.m. Wednesday. That show is sold out.
PHOTO GALLERY: Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Devon Gilfillian
Meijer Gardens
Photos by Joshua Tufts
