During last year’s Jazz Fest, Offbeat ran a piece (which I mulled at the time) about three different versions of “SJI” played in different musicians’ sets within minutes of each other. One of those was Trombone Shorty‘s take, and I remember at the time thinking “I’d like to hear that.”
And now, I have heard it, because the Trombone Shorty version subsequently appeared on Live at Jazz Fest 2007.
It did not disappoint: It’s a truly exuberant eight-and-half-minute take that’s simultaneously traditional and innovative, with a very funky wah-wah-ing guitar chugging through the whole version, a sweet trumpet solo, liberal helpings of hi-di-hi-di-hi-di-ho call-and-response with the audience, and a Latin-sounding horn motif. Good stuff.
There was also one lyrical tweak I have to mention here. As is traditional, the narrator lists the things he wants to be buried with, or wearing: The signifiers that he died successful (or at least “standing pat”). Trombone Shorty does include the box-back coat and Stetson hat, and upgrades the $20 gold piece to a $50 one, and adds:
With a Playstation 2,
A pair of Nike tennis shoes…
Hey nonotes
Been a long time. I’m the cat that hipped you to the Brotzmann/Die Like a Dog version of SJI. Hadnt been back here in a long time, 1st time to your new page (well, new to me). However everytime I’ve heard Troy Andrews playing SJI I think “gotta remember to email notes…” Of course I never got around to it. Just ran across one of your posts again, followed links to the current page, and saw you very recently posted on that very topic. Many opps to hear many versions, including Troy’s, over the next 2 weeks. Sad I wont be home for Mardi Gras this year, but staying true to the motto “Be a New Orleanian Wherever You Are.” Based in another hot, wet, corrupt, Catholic, drinking, laughing, singing, loving tropical local for the time being. If only the food and music were any good here…
Cheers
frank
I love that motto!
Will try to live up to it here, we won’t be in NO for Mardi Gras or Jazz Fest this year either.
Thanks again on that Die Like A Dog tip, one of the best ever…
Great to hear from you!
Cheers…
[…] 7, 2008 by nonotes I just recently mentioned the Trombone Shorty version of “SJI,” so I thought I’d pass along this: A recent […]
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