"Treme Second Line (Blow Da Whistle) - Corey Henry

"Treme Second Line'" (PDF) from the Kermit Ruffins album, Swing This!, and compilation, Putumayo Presents New Orleans Brass.

Corey Henry does not rely on flashy playing to convey his message, it is simply buried within his rhythm.  He plays with a laid-back feel slightly behind the pulse, gradually arriving an the downbeat after putting his weight into the upbeats, perpetually rolling along like a lopsided washing machine.  The rhythm generates its own energy.

What ends up happening when the rhythm takes control over the machine, instead of its shiny features, is that the groove digs deeper.  Just as Henry establishes the pulse of a phrase, he then gives the rhythm some momentum with a syncopated pattern that puts even more stress onto the next big beat, and the weight of all these phrases comes to a halt around the form.  It may not be pretty but the washing machine rhythms shake things up.

Here is YouTube video of Corey Henry playing with Galactic and Trombone Shorty.

Recommended Reading: Roll With It: Brass Bands in the Streets of New Orleans by Matt Sakakeeny.  Published by Duke University.