“I’m Standing Here” (PDF) from the Trombone Shorty album, Lifted

The homegrown talent of the Austin, Texas blues scene, guitarist Gary Clark Jr. established himself as a twenty-first century bluesman at the infamous Antone’s on Sixth Street, but it was his appearance at the 2010 Crossroads Guitar Festival where the rest of the world learned his name. Clark Jr. quickly earned critical and commercial success as a songwriter and performer, leading him to share the stage with Trombone Shorty at the 2012 Blues at the White House concert and the 2014 NBA All-Star Game. To celebrate their recent collaboration, Gary Clark Jr. performed as a featured guest at Trombone Shorty’s 2022 Treme Threauxdown.

In the press release for Lifted, Trombone Shorty remarks about his fandom for professional wrestling and suggests that “‘I’m Standing Here’ would be the song they played when I came into the ring.” It’s fitting that the recording showcases these two musical giants going head-to-head in feats of strength. Testing the physical limits of the horn, Shorty’s trombone solo grapples with the E blues through rhythmic stretches and knock-out punches. It’s difficult to judge who won this contest, so you better make the rematch a two-out-of-three-falls encounter because “THIS-IS-AWE-SOME!”

Here is a YouTube video of highlights from the 2014 NBA All-Star Game halftime show:

Recommended reading: Trombone Shorty by Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews. Published by Abrams Books.