It does not get much better, if at all, than dancing to the groove of Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue under the stars at Boarding House Park for the kickoff show of the 2017 Lowell Summer Music Series!

Trombone Shorty

And what a way to start the season!

Touring on the heels of his latest album, Parking Lot Symphony, his first in almost four years, he bounded on stage, trombone and trumpet raised triumphantly in one of his signature poses. The band immediately began the show with a couple of old favorites which got the crowd on our collective feet quickly.

Trombone Shorty

After drawing the crowd to him, the band began playing the tunes from the new album which blend funk and jazz in a way few have mastered.

Trombone Shorty

Shorty comes from the legendary New Orleans music family, Andrews, and has been performing since he was five years old. The professionalism he obviously learned from his family members means he delivers on his promise of a great show. He is there to perform, not to chat with us. This means his shows, however long or short they are, are packed with fantastic music.

Trombone Shorty

His band, Orleans Avenue, has been with him for a long time (possibly since he went out on his own). Pete Murano on guitar, Mike Bass-Bailey on (yes, you guessed it) bass, Joey Peebles on drums, BK Jackson on tenor sax, and Dan Oestreicher on baritone sax comprise the stellar band.

Pete Murano

Mike Bass-Bailey

Joey Peebles

BK Jackson

Dan Oestreicher

While there is no question that the show is mostly about TS and his astounding capability on trombone and trumpet, the members of Orleans Avenue are given multiple opportunities to solo. Soaring guitar licks, fabulous saxophone passages, and funkified drums punctuated the evening. Add the ever-better vocals of TS and even some tambourine playing to his brass and you have all the ingredients necessary for an enjoyable music experience.

Trombone Shorty

TS did not come into the crowd as he has done in previous shows, but he did work the front of the audience (where I was situated) shaking hands and high-fiving his fans. I caught this shot of TS high-fiving my friend Lori!

Trombone Shorty high-fiving Lori

He also repeatedly came to the edge of the stage with one or the other of his instruments.

Trombone Shorty

TS does not sing a lot – it is a bit difficult to sing while blowing into an instrument – but when he does, it is evident that his voice has gotten much stronger. One of the advantages of listening to his recorded music is that it is possible to lay vocal tracks over the instruments (I do not know if that is what he does, but I do believe the possibility exists to do so), but I know the experience of his live shows outweighs the chance to hear him sing and blow simultaneously.

Trombone Shorty

Trombone Shorty

By the end of the show, everyone in the audience (within my field of vision at least) was standing and dancing. How could they not with the spectacular music to lead them?

Trombone Shorty

Opening the show was New Breed Brass Band, a traditional New Orleans brass band that brings a second line vibe to the stage. They are touring with TS this summer and I am glad he brought them to this show.

New Breed Brass Band

I did a little research to determine the members of New Breed who played this show (their Facebook page lists nine members but only six performed this night). Aurélien Barnes on trumpet, Marc Francis on trombone, Douane Waples on tenor saxophone, Adolf Sorina on bass drum, Jenard Andrews (there’s that name again) on snare drum, Desmond Provost on sousaphone, and Caleb Windsay on trombone are the players. Please, someone let me know if I got some of their names wrong…

Aurélien Barnes

Marc Francis

Douane Waples

Adolf Sorina

Jenard Andrews

Caleb Windsay

Even though the audience remained seated during their set, they received a standing ovation for their fine opening. TS brought them to the stage during the encore as well, and gave some of them the opportunity to solo.

Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue

Everything about this show was perfection – even the lighting, which is often not so to a photographer.

Great lighting behind Pete Murano and Joey Peebles

Confetti lights on the mill building in the background

This was an incredible opening show for this summer’s Series, and sets the bar quite high for the acts who follow. TS expressed how much he loves playing the Series and said he will be back! I for one will be in the audience whenever he returns!