Equally adept on trombone and trumpet, Troy 'Trombone Shorty' Andrews plays a variety of other instruments as well. He's applied the same skill sets and fierce discipline to his vocal instrument, to soulful effect, as the album demonstrates. Surrounding Andrews is his band, Orleans Avenue - Mike Ballard on bass, Pete Murano on guitar, Joey Peebles on drums, Dwayne Williams on percussion and Dan Oestreicher on baritone sax - virtuosos every one.
What makes this record such a kick in the head is that the band, working with producer Ben Ellman of Galactic, has managed to bottle the 200-proof intensity of their devastating live performances, which have earned Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue a rabid and ever-growing following almost entirely by way of word of mouth - Backatown is the band's first recording to get a national release. Like their shows - which have been known to run for hours at an energy level that few others could sustain - the album turns on a rare combination of virtuosity and high-energy, party-down intensity.
