Trombone Shorty on Lenny Kravitz, David Simon, and being the lone horn player at the Virgin Mobile FreeFest
Before the year got under way, Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews was a New Orleans music star on the rise.
The 24-year-old trombone and trumpet player had toured with Lenny Kravitz and was the youngest person ever featured on the poster of the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.
But by year's end, he had guest-starred on David Simon's HBO show "Treme," garnered a Grammy nomination for his new album, and performed at the Virgin Mobile FreeFest.
The rapid success was unexpected — not because he was young, but because he's a horn player. At a time when traditional jazz has fallen out of favor with young listeners, he was the lone trumpeter who commanded his own stage at the rock- and dance-heavy Virgin FreeFest.
"I didn't see 2010 coming. I just had shows in mind, just getting better and touring," he said. "It's just been a blessing."
Though he's been touring for years, the level of attention he received this year has resulted in booking some 200 performances at clubs bigger than he's ever played before.
On December 30, he'll perform at Rams Head Live, where the local band The Bridge will open for him.
New Orleans is full of musicians, and Andrews grew up in one of its better-known musical families. His grandfather, Jessie Hill, scored a popular hit in the 1960s with the song "Ooh Poo Pah Doo," and an uncle, Prince La La, wrote the classic "She Put the Hurt on Me."
The full preview of Andrews' show is here.
Erik Maza is a features reporter at the Baltimore Sun. He writes for several sections of the Sun paper and contributes weekly columns on music and nightlife. He also writes and edits the Midnight Sun blog. He often covers entertainment, business, and the business of entertainment. Occasionally, he writes about Four Loko, The Block, the liquor board, and those who practice "
Comments
ALL BONED UP
Posted by: EL GNAR | December 22, 2010 1:24 PM
Highlight of 2010 Jazzfest was Trombone Shorty's set w/Mystikal jumping on stage to do two songs.
Not only did Trombone Shorty crush his set, but it was the first time since Mystikal got out of jail that he was on stage.
This show will be great, hopefully Baltimore can impress Trombone Shorty so he keeps coming back.
Posted by: Eutaw Street Historian | December 22, 2010 1:58 PM
Saw Trombone Shorty open for Dave Matthews in Charlottesville. Incredible set!! He does a few covers, sings a few songs and wails on the horn. If you aren't doing anything, a night of The Bridge and Trombone Shorty will get you ready for the New Year!!
Posted by: AlvySinger | December 22, 2010 5:34 PM
No mention of the fact that Shorty has been coming to Baltimore for years thanks to the locally produced, supported, and attended Mammojam? Easily one of the coolest annual music events in the city, it brought Shorty to town long before the national audience caught on to him. And once Shorty got too big for the nonprofit festival, his buddy Big Sam came last year, and he too blew up soon afterward with a guest spot on Treme.
You're new in town, so I can't hate on the ommission too much,
Posted by: AK | December 23, 2010 7:50 PM