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Trombone Shorty

& Orleans Avenue!
So much more than a great musician
By Debbie Storm
Troy Andrews endearingly known as “Trombone Shorty” has a big
heart filled with gratitude, and I must say my time spent with him was
inspirational.

He recently appeared at Humphreys on the Bay June 17th at the In
Concert for Cancer Event, benefitting cancer survivorship programs at
Scripps Health and sponsored by United Health Care. He will led his
band from funk-rock sounds all the way to Louis Armstrong rave-ups
and rounded it off with some traditional jazz. Performances like that tell
you why he is headlining all around the world.

Growing up in the Treme neighborhood of New Orleans, Troy was born
with music in his blood. He played with brass bands in parades and was
a bandleader by age six. He expresses so much love when he talks
about all the great musicians like Dr. John, Fats Domino, Uncle Lionel,
Louis Armstrong, Professor Longhair, Allen Toussaint, the Marsalis
brothers, the Neville family and other great musicians that took him
under their wing. Troy also expressed the influence that non-musical
people have had on his music. He states, “They dance a certain way in
the neighborhood and they tell me what to play”.
Genre-crossing and collaborating with all New Orleans music bringing
us his crowd pleasing SuperFunkRock. Troy states, “It is all about
celebration and joy and letting the music take over. We’re not trying
to do anything besides make some music and put smiles on people’s
faces, that is all New Orleans is about. We bring a big party where ever
we perform.
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Troy was nominated for a Grammy in 2010; he is a composer, musical
director and an actor. He starred in six episodes of the HBO series
photo credit: Kirk Edwards Treme. He performed the National Anthem at NFL playoff game
between The New York Giants and The Atlanta Falcons in 2012. He
appeared on live and televised shows playing with Eric Clapton, Jeff
Beck, Kid Rock, Lenny Kravitz and more. Appearing on TV and touring
the world Troy never loses focus of helping young musicians.

His charity, Trombone Shorty Foundation, evolved from The Horns for
Schools Project. The foundation helped schools across New Orleans
receive quality instruments donated by Troy personally. The Founda-
tion’s mission is “to preserve and perpetuate the unique musical culture
of New Orleans by passing down its traditions for generations of
musicians.” In December 2012, the Foundation partnered with Tulane
University to create an After School Academy to mentor aspiring high
school musicians in the New Orleans area and preserve the unique
musical culture. In December 2013, Troy will have a book published
about his life from age four to eight telling how a musical instrument
transformed a young boy’s life. It will benefit the foundation’s mission of
nurturing the next generation of musical talents. www.tromboneshorty-
foundation.org/

I got together with Troy after he returned home from a photo shoot, in
New York, for his new CD coming out in June 2013. He flew to New
York from Miami where he had just finished The Kid Rock Chillin’Cruise.
Our conversation started by Troy stating “Thank you for even wanting
to talk to me”. His laid back charisma comes through as he tells great
heart-felt stories.

I’ve heard you’ve been quoted as saying “The City of New Orleans
raised me.” What is your perspective on that?