{{Short description|2010 studio album by Trombone Shorty}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}} {{Infobox album | name = Backatown | type = studio | artist = [[Trombone Shorty]] | cover = Backatown.jpg | released = {{Start date|df=yes|2010|04|20}} | recorded = | studio = The Gumbo Room, [[New Orleans]] | genre = [[Jazz]] | length = {{Duration|m=43|s=12}} | label = [[Verve Forecast Records|Verve Forecast]] | producer = Ben Ellman | prev_title = Orleans & Claiborne | prev_year = 2005 | next_title = [[For True]] | next_year = 2011 }} '''''Backatown''''' is an album released by [[jazz]] musician [[Trombone Shorty|Troy 'Trombone Shorty' Andrews]]. The album was released in 2010 by [[Verve Forecast Records]] and was produced by [[Galactic]]'s Ben Ellman. It reached number 3 on the [[Billboard charts|''Billboard'' Jazz Albums Chart]] and was nominated for the 2011 [[Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Jazz Album]].
==Overview== {{Quote box |quote = What we tried to do with the record is capture what we do live and then just tighten it up a little bit, make it translate on record. Live, we may come across some stuff and jam on it, but the record brings it in and focuses on what we needed to do. We worked hard and we didn't rush it. I think we alright with this one. |source = [[Trombone Shorty|Troy 'Trombone Shorty' Andrews]]<ref name="Hendrickson">{{cite web|url=http://www.spinner.com/2010/04/30/trombone-shorty-treme-new-album-backatown/|title=Trombone Shorty Stands Tall on ''Backatown''|last=Hendrickson|first=Tad|date=30 April 2010|publisher=[[Spinner (website)|Spinner]]|accessdate=15 March 2011|archive-date=16 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716120741/http://www.spinner.com/2010/04/30/trombone-shorty-treme-new-album-backatown/|url-status=live}}</ref> | style="width:45%;"|align =left|quoted = 1|salign =center }}''Backatown'' represents Andrews's national<ref name="Spera">{{cite web|url=http://www.nola.com/jazzfest/index.ssf/2010/04/after_jazz_fest_the_party_cont.html|title=After New Orleans Jazz Fest the party continues at New Orleans music clubs|last=Spera|first=Keith|work=[[The Times-Picayune]]|accessdate=15 March 2011|archive-date=29 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629101439/http://www.nola.com/jazzfest/index.ssf/2010/04/after_jazz_fest_the_party_cont.html|url-status=live}}</ref> and major [[Record label|label]] debut.<ref name="HerczogSchwam2011">{{Cite book|last1=Herczog|first1=Mary|last2=Schwam|first2=Diana|title=Frommer's New Orleans 2011|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6nFTJhmGS1wC&pg=PT101|year=2011|publisher=Frommer's|isbn=978-0-470-88143-9|pages=100–101}}</ref> The tracks "In the 6th", "Hurricane Season" and "Backatown" pay homage to the culture and neighborhoods of [[New Orleans]], Andrews hometown.<ref name="Hansen">{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/transcript/transcript.php?storyId=126443793|title=Interview - Trombone Shorty: Funk From 'Backatown' New Orleans|last=Hansen|first=Liane|date=2 May 2010|publisher=[[NPR]]|accessdate=15 March 2011| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20110212094531/http://www.npr.org/templates/transcript/transcript.php?storyId=126443793| archivedate= 12 February 2011 <!--DASHBot-->}}</ref> He refers to his diverse musical style as 'supafunkrock'.<ref name="Meyer" />
The album was nominated for the 2011 Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Jazz Album<ref name="Shriver">{{Cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/music/awards/grammys/2011-02-07-fiveradar07_ST_N.htm|title=Five artists under the radar at the Grammys|last=Shriver|first=Jerry|date=7 February 2011|work=USA Today|accessdate=15 March 2011|archive-date=11 February 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110211210658/http://www.usatoday.com/life/music/awards/grammys/2011-02-07-fiveradar07_st_n.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> but lost to the [[Stanley Clarke]] album ''[[The Stanley Clarke Band]]''.<ref name="grammy">{{cite web|url=https://www.allaboutjazz.com/news/grammy-winner-stanley-clarke-reflects-on-his-win-and-two-nominations/|title=Grammy Winner Stanley Clarke Reflects on His Win And Two Nominations|last=Hadley|first=Diane|date=14 February 2011|publisher=[[All About Jazz]]|access-date=15 March 2011|archive-date=15 February 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110215151520/http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/news.php?id=75968|url-status=live}}</ref>
==The band== [[File:Lenny Kravitz (Brasilia, 2005).jpeg|125px|left|thumb|[[Lenny Kravitz]] provides guitar and backing vocals on "Something Beautiful"]] [[File:AllenToussaintFeb07.jpg|155px|right|thumb|[[Allen Toussaint]] wrote and performed on "On Your Way Down"]]
Andrews is supported by his band Orleans Avenue: bassist Mike Ballard, guitarist Pete Murano, saxophonist Dan Oestreicher, drummer Joey Peebles, and percussionist Dwayne Williams.<ref name="Jurek" /> Andrews plays trombone and trumpet<ref name="Chinen" /> and provides lead vocals on five tracks.<ref name="Himes" />
[[Lenny Kravitz]], who Andrews apprenticed under<ref name="Spera" /> as a member of his backing band,<ref name="Machosky">{{Cite news|url=http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/ae/s_691376.html|title=Trombone Shorty, band long on musical skills|last=Machosky|first=Michael|date=21 July 2010|work=[[Pittsburgh Tribune-Review]]|accessdate=15 March 2011}}</ref> plays guitar and sings backup on "Something Beautiful".<ref name="Hendrickson" /> Marc Broussard contributes backing vocals on "Right to Complain".<ref name="Chinen" /> [[Allen Toussaint]] plays piano<ref name="Jurek" /> on the only cover song, a reworking of his own "On Your Way Down".<ref name="Hansen" />
==Reception== {{Album ratings | rev1 =[[Allmusic]] | rev1Score ={{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="Jurek">{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/backatown-r1746123/review|title=Review: ''Backatown''|last=Jurek|first=Thom|publisher=Allmusic|accessdate=15 March 2011|archive-date=2 January 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110102230713/http://www.allmusic.com/album/backatown-r1746123/review|url-status=live}}</ref> | rev2 =''[[Rolling Stone]]'' | rev2Score ={{Rating|3.5|5}}<ref name="Hermes">{{cite web|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/backatown-20100510|title=''Backatown'' by Trombone Shorty|last=Hermes|first=Will|date=10 May 2010|work=Rolling Stone|accessdate=15 March 2011|archive-date=9 February 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240209020250/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/backatown-186365/|url-status=live}}</ref> | rev3 =''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' | rev3Score = 89/100<ref name="billboard">{{cite web |url= http://www.billboard.com/articles/review/1069395/trombone-shorty-backatown |title= Trombone Shorty, ''Backatown'' |last= Mitchell |first= Gail |date= 30 April 2010 |work= [[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |accessdate= 5 August 2013 |archive-date= 17 May 2018 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180517044713/https://www.billboard.com/articles/review/1069395/trombone-shorty-backatown |url-status= live }}</ref> }}
Nate Chinen said in ''[[The New York Times]]'' that the album is "more polished and less thrilling than Trombone Shorty's live shows" but goes on to call it "firm in its purpose with swagger to spare". He closed his review with "It's a sound born of New Orleans, unmistakably, and if it heralds an ambitious ascent, it also attests to an unbroken spirit."<ref name="Chinen">{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/19/arts/music/19choi.html?_r=1&pagewanted=print |title=New CDs |last=Chinen |first=Nate |date=19 April 2010 |work=The New York Times |accessdate=15 March 2011 |archive-date=3 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180703002200/https://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/19/arts/music/19choi.html?_r=1&pagewanted=print |url-status=live }}</ref>
Noting the wide appeal of ''Backatown'', Carla Meyer of ''[[The Sacramento Bee]]'' wrote that it "provides comfort for fans of jazz, rock, pop, funk and however you want to classify James Bond theme music".<ref name="Meyer">{{Cite news |title='Trombone Shorty' slides his band into Harlow's |last=Meyer |first=Carla |date=17 September 2010 |work=[[The Sacramento Bee]]}}</ref> [[Geoffrey Himes]] of ''[[The Washington Post]]'' compared Andrews's vocals to [[Stevie Wonder]] and noted that the album has "[[Second line (parades)|second-line]] rhythm that could only come from New Orleans".<ref name="Himes">{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/03/AR2010060301555.html|title=Trombone Shorty's ''Backatown''|last=Himes|first=Geoffrey|date=4 June 2010|work=The Washington Post|accessdate=15 March 2011|archive-date=29 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629050412/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/03/AR2010060301555.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
Thom Jurek of [[Allmusic]] called the music "aural gumbo" and the album a "fingerpopping, butt-shakin' mix set" that "crackles and burns with an unburdened, unfettered, passionate live feel". He went on to call it "everything popular American music should be".<ref name="Jurek" /> Will Hermes of ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' said the album is "both deeply rooted and culturally omnivorous" and referred to Andrews as "a Katrina survivor trying to hold on to the old while building the new".<ref name="Hermes" />
==Track listing== #"Hurricane Season" ([[Trombone Shorty|Troy Andrews]]) 3:20 #"On Your Way Down" ([[Allen Toussaint]]) 3:36 #"Quiet as Kept" (Andrews) 3:05 #"Something Beautiful" (Andrews, [[Ryan Montbleau]]) 3:42 #"Backatown" (Andrews) 2:47 #"Right to Complain" (Andrews, [[PJ Morton]]) 2:56 #"Neph" (Andrews) 3:02 #"Suburbia" (Andrews, Mike Ballard, Pete Murano, Joey Peebles) 3:19 #"In the 6th" (Andrews, Dan Oestreicher) 3:17 #"One Night Only (The March)" (Andrews, Montbleau) 2:49 #"Where Y' At" (Andrews, Clarence Slaughter) 2:59 #"Fallin'" (Andrews, Morton) 3:46 #"The Cure" (Andrews, Ballard, Murano) 3:39 #"928 Horn Jam" (Andrews, Oestreicher, Slaughter, Dwayne Williams) 0:55
== Personnel == *[[Trombone Shorty]] – trombone, trumpet, drums, percussion, keyboards, vocals *Dan Oestreicher – baritone saxophone *Clarence Slaughter – flute, saxophone *Pete Murano – guitar *Mike Ballard – bass guitar *Joey Peebles – drums *Dwayne Williams – percussion
===Guest musicians=== *[[Lenny Kravitz]] – guitar solo, backing vocals on "Something Beautiful" *[[Allen Toussaint]] – piano on "On Your Way Down" *[[Marc Broussard]] – additional vocals on "Right to Complain" *Charles Smith – bass synthesizer on "Backatown" and "Quiet as Kept"
===Production=== *Ben Ellman – producer, [[Audio engineering|engineer]] *Dave Barlett – [[executive producer]], management *Matt Cornell – executive producer, management *[[Mike Kappus]] – executive producer, management *Alexander Alvarez – engineer *Kyle Lamy – engineer *Mike Ballard – vocal engineer on "Fallin'" and "Hurricane Season" *Charles Smith – vocal engineer on "One Night Only (The March)" *Korey Richey – vocal engineer on "Right to Complain" *Kirk Edwards – photography *Kevin Reagan – design *Vartan – art direction
==Charts== {| class="wikitable" |- ! Year ! Chart ! Peak position |- | rowspan=3|2010 |[[Media Control Charts|German Albums Chart]] | style="text-align:center;"|96<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.musicline.de/de/chartverfolgung_summary/artist/Shorty%2CTrombone/longplay |title=German chart overview - Trombone Shorty |work=musicline.de |publisher=media control |language=German |access-date=6 August 2013 |archive-date=29 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120829153958/http://musicline.de/de/chartverfolgung_summary/artist/Shorty,Trombone/longplay |url-status=dead }}</ref> |- | US [[Billboard charts|''Billboard'' Jazz Albums]] |align=center |3<ref name="charts">{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/backatown-r1746123/charts-awards|title=Charts & Awards: ''Backatown''|publisher=Allmusic|accessdate=15 March 2011|archive-date=9 February 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240209020250/https://www.allmusic.com/album/backatown-mw0001974294|url-status=live}}</ref> |- | US [[Top Heatseekers|''Billboard'' Top Heatseekers]] |align=center |6<ref name="charts" /> |- | 2011 | |[[Productores de Música de España|Spanish Albums Chart]] |align=center |77<ref name="acharts">{{cite web |url= http://acharts.us/album/64521 |title= Trombone Shorty - Backatown – Music Charts |publisher= acharts.us |accessdate= 6 August 2013 |archive-date= 3 December 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20111203065527/http://acharts.us/album/64521 |url-status= live }}</ref> |}
==References== {{reflist}}
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[[Category:2010 albums]] [[Category:Trombone Shorty albums]] [[Category:Jazz fusion albums by American artists]] [[Category:Verve Forecast Records albums]]