reCAP :: Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue w/ Funky Dawgz Brass Band :: 2017.02.16
On February 16, 2017, The Capitol Theatre was no longer The Original Rock Palace that resides in Port Chester, NY. Thanks to Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, with support from Funky Dawgz Brass Band, the venue and all of its funk-thirsty inhabitants were transported to the heart of New Orleans for an evening of jazz, funk, and unprecedented musicianship. Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue have been busy opening for the Red Hot Chili Peppers on their current tour, but it was very clear last Thursday night that the band had been waiting to headline their own performance. Like a volcano on the brink of eruption, both bands exploded with energy for an audience eager to groove to each and every note.
The evening began with Funky Dawgz Brass Band, a 10-piece horn-heavy funk band that sported 8 members on the Cap’s stage. Three trumpets, two saxophones, one trumpet, one sousaphone, one drummer, and eight young guys ready to bring the house down. The band whipped out crowd-pleasing covers like Michael Jackson’s “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough” as well as originals hits. They did their job, which was to set a tone for the evening that screamed horns and “Who dat?” Ultimately, if there’s anything the audience learned after the set, it’s that there ain’t no party like a Funky Dawgz party, cause a Funky Dawgz party don’t stop.
Soon after the Dawgz finished their set, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue hit the stage with electric enthusiasm. Although Troy Andrews performs under nom de plume ‘Trombone Shorty’, it soon became clear that he could also sport the names ‘Trumpet Shorty’ or ‘Beautiful-Voiced Tambourine-Tapping Shorty’, as he showed off his trumpet, vocal, and tambourine skills effortlessly throughout the evening. Surrounding him were two saxophone players, a bassist, a drummer, and a guitarist. Not only were these musicians superbly talented, but the instruments blended in with their bodies. Tenor Saxophonist BK Jackson was ball room dancing with his brass body and Andrews’ trombone was an extension of his arm every time he leaned back and slid the horn into the air.
The perfect way to cap off the NOLA-infused extravaganza? Celebrating Mardi Gras. Illuminated by green, yellow, and purple lights, the ensemble began with a cover of “Let’s Go Get ‘Em” and ended with the oh-so-appropriate “When the Saints Go Marching In.” With each band member starting in a single line downstage, they carried their instruments off stage and into the audience followed by a single spotlight.
Honorable hits of the night included “Slippery Lips,” “Craziest Thing,” and “Sistamamalova,” the last of which featured a lengthy guitar solo reminiscent of Jimi Hendrix from guitarist Pete Murano. The band did a solid job at showcasing each performer’s talent, whether there were featured solos, duets, trios, or quartets of members huddled on the stage. The crowd featured a mix of young and old, funk enthusiasts, and those starting to dip their feet in the funk. Despite the diversity in taste and demographic, there was an overwhelming sense of fun which was demonstrated by the pools of grooving bodies on both levels of the Cap. If only for a few hours, Trombone Shorty & Orleans transformed the concert venue before them into a haven of NOLA culture.