# Backatown

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2010 studio album by Trombone Shorty

Backatown Studio album by Trombone Shorty Released 20 April 2010 (2010-04-20) Studio The Gumbo Room, New Orleans Genre Jazz Length 43:12 Label Verve Forecast Producer Ben Ellman Trombone Shorty chronology Orleans & Claiborne (2005) Backatown (2010) For True (2011)

***Backatown*** is an album released by [jazz](/source/Jazz) musician [Troy 'Trombone Shorty' Andrews](/source/Trombone_Shorty). The album was released in 2010 by [Verve Forecast Records](/source/Verve_Forecast_Records) and was produced by [Galactic](/source/Galactic)'s Ben Ellman. It reached number 3 on the [*Billboard* Jazz Albums Chart](/source/Billboard_charts) and was nominated for the 2011 [Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Jazz Album](/source/Grammy_Award_for_Best_Contemporary_Jazz_Album).

## Overview

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.

— [Troy 'Trombone Shorty' Andrews](/source/Trombone_Shorty)[1]

*Backatown* represents Andrews's national[2] and major [label](/source/Record_label) debut.[3] The tracks "In the 6th", "Hurricane Season" and "Backatown" pay homage to the culture and neighborhoods of [New Orleans](/source/New_Orleans), Andrews hometown.[4] He refers to his diverse musical style as 'supafunkrock'.[5]

The album was nominated for the 2011 Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Jazz Album[6] but lost to the [Stanley Clarke](/source/Stanley_Clarke) album *[The Stanley Clarke Band](/source/The_Stanley_Clarke_Band)*.[7]

## The band

[Lenny Kravitz](/source/Lenny_Kravitz) provides guitar and backing vocals on "Something Beautiful"

[Allen Toussaint](/source/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.[8] Andrews plays trombone and trumpet[9] and provides lead vocals on five tracks.[10]

[Lenny Kravitz](/source/Lenny_Kravitz), who Andrews apprenticed under[2] as a member of his backing band,[11] plays guitar and sings backup on "Something Beautiful".[1] Marc Broussard contributes backing vocals on "Right to Complain".[9] [Allen Toussaint](/source/Allen_Toussaint) plays piano[8] on the only cover song, a reworking of his own "On Your Way Down".[4]

## Reception

Professional ratings Review scores Source Rating Allmusic [8] Rolling Stone [12] Billboard 89/100[13]

Nate Chinen said in *[The New York Times](/source/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."[9]

Noting the wide appeal of *Backatown*, Carla Meyer of *[The Sacramento Bee](/source/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".[5] [Geoffrey Himes](/source/Geoffrey_Himes) of *[The Washington Post](/source/The_Washington_Post)* compared Andrews's vocals to [Stevie Wonder](/source/Stevie_Wonder) and noted that the album has "[second-line](/source/Second_line_(parades)) rhythm that could only come from New Orleans".[10]

Thom Jurek of [Allmusic](/source/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".[8] Will Hermes of *[Rolling Stone](/source/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".[12]

## Track listing

1. "Hurricane Season" ([Troy Andrews](/source/Trombone_Shorty)) 3:20

1. "On Your Way Down" ([Allen Toussaint](/source/Allen_Toussaint)) 3:36

1. "Quiet as Kept" (Andrews) 3:05

1. "Something Beautiful" (Andrews, [Ryan Montbleau](/source/Ryan_Montbleau)) 3:42

1. "Backatown" (Andrews) 2:47

1. "Right to Complain" (Andrews, [PJ Morton](/source/PJ_Morton)) 2:56

1. "Neph" (Andrews) 3:02

1. "Suburbia" (Andrews, Mike Ballard, Pete Murano, Joey Peebles) 3:19

1. "In the 6th" (Andrews, Dan Oestreicher) 3:17

1. "One Night Only (The March)" (Andrews, Montbleau) 2:49

1. "Where Y' At" (Andrews, Clarence Slaughter) 2:59

1. "Fallin'" (Andrews, Morton) 3:46

1. "The Cure" (Andrews, Ballard, Murano) 3:39

1. "928 Horn Jam" (Andrews, Oestreicher, Slaughter, Dwayne Williams) 0:55

## Personnel

- [Trombone Shorty](/source/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](/source/Lenny_Kravitz) – guitar solo, backing vocals on "Something Beautiful"

- [Allen Toussaint](/source/Allen_Toussaint) – piano on "On Your Way Down"

- [Marc Broussard](/source/Marc_Broussard) – additional vocals on "Right to Complain"

- Charles Smith – bass synthesizer on "Backatown" and "Quiet as Kept"

### Production

- Ben Ellman – producer, [engineer](/source/Audio_engineering)

- Dave Barlett – [executive producer](/source/Executive_producer), management

- Matt Cornell – executive producer, management

- [Mike Kappus](/source/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

Year Chart Peak position 2010 German Albums Chart 96[14] US Billboard Jazz Albums 3[15] US Billboard Top Heatseekers 6[15] 2011 Spanish Albums Chart 77[16]

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Hendrickson_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Hendrickson_1-1) Hendrickson, Tad (30 April 2010). ["Trombone Shorty Stands Tall on *Backatown*"](http://www.spinner.com/2010/04/30/trombone-shorty-treme-new-album-backatown/). [Spinner](/source/Spinner_(website)). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20110716120741/http://www.spinner.com/2010/04/30/trombone-shorty-treme-new-album-backatown/) from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 15 March 2011.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Spera_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Spera_2-1) Spera, Keith. ["After New Orleans Jazz Fest the party continues at New Orleans music clubs"](http://www.nola.com/jazzfest/index.ssf/2010/04/after_jazz_fest_the_party_cont.html). *[The Times-Picayune](/source/The_Times-Picayune)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20110629101439/http://www.nola.com/jazzfest/index.ssf/2010/04/after_jazz_fest_the_party_cont.html) from the original on 29 June 2011. Retrieved 15 March 2011.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-HerczogSchwam2011_3-0)** Herczog, Mary; Schwam, Diana (2011). [*Frommer's New Orleans 2011*](https://books.google.com/books?id=6nFTJhmGS1wC&pg=PT101). Frommer's. pp. 100–101. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-470-88143-9](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-470-88143-9).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Hansen_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Hansen_4-1) Hansen, Liane (2 May 2010). ["Interview - Trombone Shorty: Funk From 'Backatown' New Orleans"](https://web.archive.org/web/20110212094531/http://www.npr.org/templates/transcript/transcript.php?storyId=126443793). [NPR](/source/NPR). Archived from [the original](https://www.npr.org/templates/transcript/transcript.php?storyId=126443793) on 12 February 2011. Retrieved 15 March 2011.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Meyer_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Meyer_5-1) Meyer, Carla (17 September 2010). "'Trombone Shorty' slides his band into Harlow's". *[The Sacramento Bee](/source/The_Sacramento_Bee)*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Shriver_6-0)** Shriver, Jerry (7 February 2011). ["Five artists under the radar at the Grammys"](https://www.usatoday.com/life/music/awards/grammys/2011-02-07-fiveradar07_ST_N.htm). *USA Today*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20110211210658/http://www.usatoday.com/life/music/awards/grammys/2011-02-07-fiveradar07_st_n.htm) from the original on 11 February 2011. Retrieved 15 March 2011.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-grammy_7-0)** Hadley, Diane (14 February 2011). ["Grammy Winner Stanley Clarke Reflects on His Win And Two Nominations"](https://www.allaboutjazz.com/news/grammy-winner-stanley-clarke-reflects-on-his-win-and-two-nominations/). [All About Jazz](/source/All_About_Jazz). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20110215151520/http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/news.php?id=75968) from the original on 15 February 2011. Retrieved 15 March 2011.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Jurek_8-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Jurek_8-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Jurek_8-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Jurek_8-3) Jurek, Thom. ["Review: *Backatown*"](http://www.allmusic.com/album/backatown-r1746123/review). Allmusic. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20110102230713/http://www.allmusic.com/album/backatown-r1746123/review) from the original on 2 January 2011. Retrieved 15 March 2011.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Chinen_9-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Chinen_9-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Chinen_9-2) Chinen, Nate (19 April 2010). ["New CDs"](https://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/19/arts/music/19choi.html?_r=1&pagewanted=print). *The New York Times*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20180703002200/https://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/19/arts/music/19choi.html?_r=1&pagewanted=print) from the original on 3 July 2018. Retrieved 15 March 2011.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Himes_10-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Himes_10-1) Himes, Geoffrey (4 June 2010). ["Trombone Shorty's *Backatown*"](https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/03/AR2010060301555.html). *The Washington Post*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20110629050412/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/03/AR2010060301555.html) from the original on 29 June 2011. Retrieved 15 March 2011.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Machosky_11-0)** Machosky, Michael (21 July 2010). ["Trombone Shorty, band long on musical skills"](http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/ae/s_691376.html). *[Pittsburgh Tribune-Review](/source/Pittsburgh_Tribune-Review)*. Retrieved 15 March 2011.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Hermes_12-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Hermes_12-1) Hermes, Will (10 May 2010). ["*Backatown* by Trombone Shorty"](https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/backatown-20100510). *Rolling Stone*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20240209020250/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/backatown-186365/) from the original on 9 February 2024. Retrieved 15 March 2011.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-billboard_13-0)** Mitchell, Gail (30 April 2010). ["Trombone Shorty, *Backatown*"](http://www.billboard.com/articles/review/1069395/trombone-shorty-backatown). *[Billboard](/source/Billboard_(magazine))*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20180517044713/https://www.billboard.com/articles/review/1069395/trombone-shorty-backatown) from the original on 17 May 2018. Retrieved 5 August 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** ["German chart overview - Trombone Shorty"](https://web.archive.org/web/20120829153958/http://musicline.de/de/chartverfolgung_summary/artist/Shorty,Trombone/longplay). *musicline.de* (in German). media control. Archived from [the original](http://www.musicline.de/de/chartverfolgung_summary/artist/Shorty%2CTrombone/longplay) on 29 August 2012. Retrieved 6 August 2013.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-charts_15-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-charts_15-1) ["Charts & Awards: *Backatown*"](http://www.allmusic.com/album/backatown-r1746123/charts-awards). Allmusic. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20240209020250/https://www.allmusic.com/album/backatown-mw0001974294) from the original on 9 February 2024. Retrieved 15 March 2011.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-acharts_16-0)** ["Trombone Shorty - Backatown – Music Charts"](http://acharts.us/album/64521). acharts.us. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20111203065527/http://acharts.us/album/64521) from the original on 3 December 2011. Retrieved 6 August 2013.

Authority control databases MusicBrainz release group

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Backatown](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Backatown) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Backatown?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.