Shout Band – An Explosion of Musical Joy at Sertoma

May 10, 2010 | Story by: Lindsey Chester | Categories: Music

Cary, NC- Call me lucky. Saturday I attended a rare free performance of the Mangum & Company Shout Band. If I had listened to the weatherman, who predicted thunderstorms for that afternoon, maybe I wouldn’t have headed over to the Sertoma Ampitheatre in Bond Park.

Under a cloudless sky, the band thrilled us with their 11 trombones blaring a toe-tapping rhythm inspired by church gospels. The event was co-sponsored by The Town of Cary and Pine Cone (The Piedmont Council of Traditional Music), an organization founded to promote our native regional music.

During one number, band leader Cedric Mangum explained the music to the audience, filling them in on how the bass drum was the “heartbeat” of the music. He then signaled to the baritone player to step forward and add her sound. Gradually, each instrument was added to the mix for the full explosion of musical joy.

Surprisingly, a number of the musicians were young men, taking up the trombone and practicing this traditional style music. Cedric told me that they have a tradition of passing down this music to the next generation to help keep it alive.

Good times on a perfect afternoon. Just another great free event in Cary. Pine Cone will be bringing several other events to the area including:Phil Wiggins and Corey Davis at Fletcher Theater in Raleigh on May 14 and Patty Griffin and Buddy Miller at the NC Museum of Art on June 2.

CaryCitizen photos by Lindsey Chester.