"Wolf Stuff" - New Birth Brass Band

“Wolf Stuff” (PDF) from the New Birth Brass Band album, New Orleans Second Line!

2021 UPDATE:
Upon hearing of the passing of trombonist Keith “Wolf” Anderson, a remarkable musician often found playing in the French Quarter, it occurred to me that this tune was probably influenced by his presence, and I had yet to make the connection. Thus, this entry deserves a more suitable revision, especially for the Chicago-born talent. Stay tuned…

I need some help with this one. The melodic content of this tune suggests to me that it could be a cover version or an arrangement of another song, but I can’t seem to find a connection. It reminds me of the Dennis Brown reggae tune “I Don’t Know Why,” which would explain similar Caribbean influences but the melodies aren’t close enough to make that case. Another possibility, a long-shot, could be that it was an original untitled piece maybe recorded live at The Howlin’ Wolf club and when compiling material for the album the band decided to include some “Wolf stuff.”

I miss having printed album credits and liner notes.

I also still need to learn who plays the trombone solo on this recording. It could be Glen David Andrews, Corey Henry, Reginald Steward, or any other trombonist in New Orleans, really. The most remarkable quality of this solo is the trombonist’s range, their ability to leap octaves with a steady tone. Additionally, there are flashes of technical mastery in the sixteenth-note patterns through the minor pentatonic scale. But perhaps the trade-off of a live recording is the luxury of being able to craft a signature trombone solo through multiple takes.

Or maybe I simply haven’t transcribed enough to have caught on by now.

Here’s a YouTube video of the New Birth Brass Band at the 2019 Jazz Fest:

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