Trombone Shorty

Trombone Shorty (born Troy Andrews, January 3, 1986) is an American musician, bandleader, and composer from New Orleans known for playing trombone and trumpet and for blending jazz, funk, rhythm and blues, and hip hop traditions. He leads the bands Orleans Avenue and the Crescent City Connection and has released multiple albums on labels such as Verve Forecast and Nonesuch. His career spans appearances at major festivals, television programs, and collaborations with leading artists across popular and traditional music scenes.

Early life and musical beginnings

Born in the Tremé neighborhood of New Orleans into the Andrews musical family, he is the son of James Andrews and the nephew of Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews Sr.'s relatives who performed in local brass bands. He grew up surrounded by the traditions of the Treme Brass Band, Preservation Hall Jazz Band and the street parades of Mardi Gras Indian and second-line culture. As a child he performed with the Uptown Jazz Orchestra and joined established ensembles such as the Dirty Dozen Brass Band and Rebirth Brass Band appearing at venues like the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and on stages shared with members of the Maceo Parker and James Brown circles. Early mentorship came from figures in the New Orleans music scene including members of the Andrews family, educators at local programs, and touring musicians who passed through the city.

Career and recordings

He formed the group Orleans Avenue and later the Crescent City Connection, releasing independent recordings before signing to national labels. His major-label debut arrived on Verve Forecast with an album that showcased originals and arrangements drawing on New Orleans brass-band repertoire, jazz standards, and contemporary songwriting. Subsequent albums on Nonesuch Records and Blue Thumb Records included studio sessions featuring horn arrangements, rhythm sections, and guest vocalists from scenes associated with Prince, Bruno Mars, and Dr. John. He has produced record projects, contributed trumpet and trombone tracks to studio albums by artists on labels such as Atlantic Records and Republic Records, and released a memoir and children's book projects tied to recorded soundtracks and educational outreach initiatives.

Musical style and influences

His playing fuses the street-taught techniques of the New Orleans brass band tradition with the phrasing of Louis Armstrong, the funk grooves of James Brown, and the improvisational language of Charlie Parker and Miles Davis. He cites influences ranging from local figures in Tremé and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band to national performers such as Dizzy Gillespie, Maceo Parker, and Herbie Hancock. His arrangements often reference the syncopation of Professor Longhair, the horn charts associated with Tower of Power, and the contemporary production aesthetics linked to Questlove and Mark Ronson. He performs both trombone and trumpet, sometimes switching mid-song, combining lead technique with vocal delivery influenced by Aaron Neville and Allen Toussaint.

Collaborations and performances

He has performed with and opened for artists such as U2, Stevie Wonder, Bruce Springsteen, The Rolling Stones, and Lenny Kravitz, and collaborated in the studio with musicians including Dr. John, Bruno Mars, Green Day, Erykah Badu, and Kendrick Lamar. Festival appearances include the Glastonbury Festival, Coachella, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, and the Montreux Jazz Festival. He has been featured on television programs like The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, and Austin City Limits, and contributed to film soundtracks and benefit concerts tied to organizations such as Musicians' Village and relief efforts after Hurricane Katrina.

Awards and recognitions

His work has earned nominations and awards across popular and jazz categories, including honors from the GRAMMY Awards voting membership and recognition by institutions such as the National Endowment for the Arts and regional arts organizations in Louisiana. He has received local awards like the Big Easy Entertainment Awards and national acclaim in publications and critics' polls from outlets aligned with DownBeat and Rolling Stone. In addition to performance prizes, he has been appointed to ambassadorial and cultural roles representing New Orleans music in civic and educational initiatives and has been recognized with honorary degrees and distinctions from universities and arts foundations.

Category:American trombonists Category:Musicians from New Orleans