The 47th annual Atlanta Jazz Festival took place this weekend and on Saturday, the official day one of the festival, a band from Richmond, Virginia might have stolen the show.
Butcher Brown, having come off a tour of their latest album, Solar Music, made sure to save some of the albums hits for a very large crowd at Piedmont Park. Performing some of their hits, “No Way Around,” “Happy Hourrr”, and “This Side of Sunshine”, it didn’t forget to mix in some older work and one the latest singles, “Thirty One”, which does a good job of highlighting the bands many musical gifts.
They opened the set with “I Can Say To You”, the version without featured artist Vanisha Gould. It’s the version the band played at their most recent NPR Music Tiny Desk appearance and it set the tone for a stellar evening.
By the way the crowd was instantly vibing with the band, one could tell there was some recognition of the music mixed with curiosity. Butcher Brown occupied the 5 p.m. slot and took full advantage of a still very engaged crown since the performances didn’t begin at 1 p.m.
The band is made up of five members: lead vocalist/sax/trumpet Marcus “Tennishu” Tenny, Corey Fonville on drums, DJ Harrison on the keys, Andrew Randazzo on bass, and Morgan Burns on guitar. There were several times were when Randazzo’s and Burns skills were on display and you can see why the band is booked throughout the year. When the and played “Fohbliv” it got a lot of people out of their comfortable seats and off blankets.
“Everybody isn’t doing this right now, but we are,” Tenny said in between songs. “You can dance whenever you feel like it.”
“DYKWYD” is one of the band’s songs that allows Tenny to play a vocal lead and it’s no wonder why when the band proceeded to perform the song there were very few butts in seats (or on blankets). Upon a first lesson, Butcher Brown can give off “The Roots” vibes, but with more of an allegiance to jazz and the art forms fundamentals than hip-hop.
The two-hour set had no dull moments, and a lot of credit that easily listening has to go to every individual member of the band. The music allows for each of them to have their moments during a live show.
Butcher Brown is scheduled to perform back on its home turf at the Main Line Brewery on May 27 for the Daydream Fest. Here’s to hoping they are performing in Atlanta agian because I believe they have gained an entirely new audience. Thousands are expected to make their way to the park for the three-day festival.
“Shout out to my man in the Vick jersey, I know he’s Atlanta, but that’s VA right there,” Tenney shouted into the microphone.