"Backatown" - Trombone Shorty

SONG: “Backatown” (PDF)
ALBUM: Backatown
YEAR: 2010
LABEL: Verve Forecast

Special thanks to readers Bill, Kevin, lee & Unknown for their contributions!

I believe this transcription is my quickest turnaround so far, transcribed and uploaded within a 15 hour period. That goes to show how simple great tunes can be. While "Backatown" doesn't push the theoretical envelope, its greatness lies in Shorty's performance.

The opening melody is meant to serve as the bass line. I heard a radio interview with Shorty in which he specified that this melody came from his need to play bass lines when accompanying his trumpet-playing brother. So learn how to play bass lines on the trombone. It will help you learn form and harmony, for instance, try it with the blues in all twelve keys.

Here's a YouTube video from Deborah “Big Red” Cotton of Trombone Shorty playing this song, notice how little slide movement he uses during the solo.