If you’ve ever heard Trombone Shorty in concert, you know that he is 1) LOUD and 2) FESTIVE and 3) LOUD. This album, his first in a long time, feels almost like something not as much from New Orleans, but from 1970s Philadelphia, with TSOP soul sounds of funky back beats, hip choruses and catchy grooves.
Shorty almost comes across like a trombone version of Jr. Walker, cruising over Soul Train grooves on “Come Back”, upbeat on “Miss Beautiful” and giving a sweet solo over the military drums of “Lie To Me”. There’s some metallic rock with Guy Clark Jr. on a bold “I’m Standing Here” and sounds like 70s disco ball beat with Lauren Daigle during “What It Takes”. The New Breed Brass band gives a big bopping swing feel to the uptempo “Everybody in the World, while VSOP moods are on hand for “Good Company”. Shorty is on the expressway to y our love.