A tale of two percussionists

I guess i have a new hobby: going to a concert not to see the headliner. As Big Freedia cancelled her whole European tour, the Jazz à Vienne festival’s organizers scrambled to find a suitable replacement. Fortunately, the New Orleans Jazz Museum sponsored the creation of a new group comprising trumpeter James Andrews (Trombone Shorty’s older brother), trombonist Greg Hicks, pianist Victor Campbell, guitarist Sam Dickey, double bassist Sélène Saint-Aimé, drummer Tiss Rodriguez… and drummer Anne Paceo. Yep, that’s right, two drummers. Anne Paceo’s talent is undeniable, but sometimes, i find her playing too perfect. It’s like listening to a math problem. Last night, though, she let loose just enough to soften her metronomic pulse. She was the deep and sharp yang to Tiss Rodriguez’s lax and floppy yin. I wrote “she’s squaring his circle” while they were engaging in their second battle of the night, a masterclass in the art of call-and-response that lasted a long time, and yet seemed far…