Live Review: Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Martinez Acoustica

Opening act Martinez Acoustica were a family of amazingly skilled Latin guitarists but were somewhat mis-booked. Their technical prowess and special effects with Wurlitzer pedal programming and occasional beat-boxing kept things interesting, but the party barometer read 'mildly attentive' for most of their set, peaking at 'warm appreciation' with their final piece.

Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue came on stage with a room pressure of 'blow your hat off' and it only got hotter from there. Trombone Shorty is a special guy with a special talent for mixing hip hop, metal and jazz to bring the funky party. Drawing from his LP For True the musical stylings varied from true '60s metal with horns, to true hometown loving with Mrs Orleans. The man can play 87 instruments and sing, but most important to him appears to be the party. The band, the crowd and the connection. This is what makes him stand head and shoulders above the likes of Raphael Saadiq or Aloe Blacc. It's good times, with a nod to Ray Charles, to James Brown and to Outkast.

That's not to say he can't break it down when it's needed. Their take on the standard St James Infirmary was slow, low and sticky. Funk on the Al Green, Barry White level of dirty. Even then though, he can't resist throwing in a little Minnie The Moocher for fun. The party tricks amped up with David Ryan Harris jumping on stage for a jam and the amazing swapsies for the finale. Not just one or two members swapping instruments, but every player on something new – and doing it with a skill level most dream of on their primary.