Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings w/ Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue
The Moore Theatre, Seattle, WA
04.14.16
Hot potatoes, pins and needles, whoopee cushions. There’s a million reasons to get up out of your seats, but the one-two punch of Sharon Jones and Trombone Shorty are probably the luckiest of that draw. Their rollicking funk/jass/soul standoff at Seattle’s historic Moore Theatre was a ticket not to be missed, let your FOMO fully commence, but the next time these acts come to town, don’t delay in getting this hot ticket.
Opening the night, Trombone Shorty – née Troy Andrews – and Orleans Avenue, his five-piece band, whipped the crowd into a frenzy. This is feel-good music if there ever was any, a jam session of musicianship that throws it back to classic NOLA jazz, but rocks a vocabulary of influences that includes hip hop, rock, pop, and soul. While the definite draw here is Andrews’ show-stopping horn expertise, on both trombone and trumpet, his vocal ability and leadership shouldn’t be overlooked.
The band rocked a cover of Lenny Kravitz’s “Sistamamalover,” (Andrews toured with Kravitz some years ago), that was so smooth and rhythmic you couldn’t help but move. Even a reticent sitter had to have been tapping their toes. As Andrews insisted “we need everybody up out of your seats on this one,” the crowd complied, and there was suddenly a party in the room. Andrews shows off a bit, moonwalking, howling like James Brown, but he also lets his band shine, giving them plenty of solo time. They were the perfect set up for Sharon Jones and a night of authentic funk and soul.
“The Dapettes” came out first, with the full band, for a three-song set. Saun and Starr – longtime friends and singing compatriots of Jones’ – are a bundle of sass and vocal prowess, and they have their own full album to boot. After their fun and funky set, Miss Jones herself finally graced the stage.
In a black and white fringed dress, like a tiny ball of fire, Jones and The Dap Kings open the set with “Retreat!” from their 2014 album Give the People What They Want. The track is a scorned-woman gone strong, a kiss-off that feels like a party. And it’s a great opener that has the crowd jumping and dancing in the aisles. There are New Orleans jazz grooves, a cover of Gladys Knight’s “Giving Up,” and a shout out to the Melodic Caring Project kids.
At one point, a gentleman in the audience offers Jones a bouquet, and she pulls him up on stage. Lo and behold its Jimmy “Scratch” James, bandleader and guitarist extraordinaire of local soul outfit Grace Love and The True Loves. She serenades him with “Long Time, Wrong Time” before the band hands him a guitar to join in the fun. And boy is it fun. Jones is a purveyor of ecstatic soul, shimmying and shaking across the stage with ferocious attitude. And she sings her ass off.
Backed by one of the best bands in the business – their cooperative nature and constant communication are a joy to watch – one that sounds so clean, and yet so dirty, live, Jones proceeds to slaughter the night with her one-of-a-kind riotous live energy. While the bands mainstream success may have been late coming, it’s here to stay. Their enduring throwback sound – its mix of soul, funk, jazz, and fun – possesses a sheer, raw joy that anyone can appreciate.
Both bands are about to join up with Daryl Hall and John Oates’ summer 2016 tour, find tickets here.
Review by Stephanie Dore
Photos by Alex Crick
Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings
Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue
