Troy Andrews
Prominent
in his hometown of New Orleans, young trombonist Troy Andrews, widely known
as Trombone Shorty, has already established a reputation in U.S. and international
jazz circles at the young age of sixteen.
Troy grew up in the historic Treme´ neighborhood of New Orleans, famous for its role in nurturing the earliest New Orleans jazz musicians. From the time he could walk, Troy literally followed in the footsteps of some of the greatest pioneers of Jazz, including Louis Armstrong, Sidney Bechet, Jelly Roll Morton and Kid Ory, all of whom grew up around or played in the streets of the Treme´ neighborhood. By the time he began grade school, Troy was recognized as a junior virtuoso and popular entertainer and was honored when he was only eight years old by having a Treme´ neighborhood club named "Trombone Shorty's."
Tutored by older brother and popular recording artist James Andrews, who in turn was mentored and initiated into the world of New Orleans jazz musicians by legendary banjo player and guitarist Danny Barker, Trombone Shorty has performed all over the world. He has played in far away places such as Havana, Cuba; Paris, France; Vittoria, Spain; Istanbul, Turkey and played well-known venues such as the Vienna Jazz Festival, the North Sea Jazz Festival, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, the Istanbul Jazz Festival, as well as a New Orleans music festival in Dubai (the United Arab Emirates).
Trombone Shorty currently attends the prestigious New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts, a high-school level fine arts institution that has produced such alumni as Wynton and Branford Marsalis, Harry Connick Jr., and Nicholas Payton. At NOCCA, he is taking classes in music theory, ear training, Big Band, as well as instrumental instruction. He is taught and mentored by well-known trumpeter Clyde Kerr, Jr., as well as Kent Jordan, the prominent flautist and composer who leads the Jazz Studies department at NOCCA.
Recently appearing on PBS' Live from Lincoln Center with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra led by Wynton Marsalis, Troy was a featured artist in a centennial tribute to Louis Armstrong. One of his earlier recording projects was for a Japanese label, entitled "Global Song of Kids", a collection of children's songs played in the traditional New Orleans brass band style. Troy's most recent recording, Trombone Shorty's Swingin' Gate (Louisiana Red Hot Records/Keep Swingin Record - LHRHR 1156), features several original compositions in addition to Troy's arrangements of Jazz standards.
Having established quite an impressive portfolio in a short amount of time, Trombone Shorty continues to delight both young and old alike with spirited performances and proud determination to continue the cherished heritage of jazz music well into the 21st century.