Toot Sweet and The Shadow Man

About this event

Dublinjazz.ie are really excited to be showcasing one of the most original bands to come out of Dublin over the last 10 years.

New Orleans’ Funk band “Toot Sweet and the Shadow Man” was founded in 2012 by pianist Cian Boylan, while on a tour bus in the USA travelling through Louisiana. The idea was to bring a taste of bayou funk home to Europe, with original music and arrangements of existing material that would invoke the music of some of the greats of The Big Easy, including Dr. John, Rebirth Brass Band, Dirty Dozen Brass Band and many others.

Making up the core of the band are the amazing John “Buzz” Wilde (drums and vocals), the legendary Conor Brady (guitar), the spectacular vocalist Cormac Kenevey (percussion and vocals), with Dan Bodwell holding down down the groove (double bass), and Cian (piano, hammond organ and vocals). All of these musicians are recording artists in their own right and together create an energy and excitement that is infectious.

The horn section boasts players of the highest rate, bringing the excitement and fire to the front line. Featuring Brendan Doyle (baritone and alto sax), Karl Ronan (trombone),and Mark Adams (trumpet) and blistering horn arrangements by Cian.

The music of New Orleans has been a lifelong passion for Cian since first hearing the likes of Professor Longhair and Dr. John and he has even written a masters thesis on the New Orleans piano technique. The band share a deep understanding for the music, and a collective empathy for the groove having held duties in many world class line-ups together, including Van Morrison, Kurt Elling, Jerry Fish and the Mudbug Club, Imelda May, Toots and the Maytals, The Commitments, Terence Trent D’Arby, John Schofield, and Sister Sledge.

A sensational live outfit, with swampy hammond grooves and rolling piano licks, deep-in-the-pocket guitar, a take-no-prisoners horn section, and an enviable rhythm section, Toot Sweet’s focus is on spreading this music to the masses.