Troy “Trombone Shorty" Andrews comes by his funky New Orleans musical style by nature and nurture. The 24-year-old's homegrown blend of rock, R and funk, as featured on his new album “Backatown" (Verve, April 20), is not only a product of the 6th Ward neighborhood known as Trem; it also comes out of a long family tradition of NOLA music-making.
Shorty's grandfather, Jessie Hill, was a legendary R singer and songwriter best known for the classic top 40 hit, “Ooh Poo Pah Doo." Produced by Allen Toussaint, the song became a traditional Mardi Gras favorite. Hill went on to write songs for Ike Tina Turner, Sonny Cher and Willie Nelson.
Troy's mother ran a club she called “Trombone Shorty's" which served as a gathering place for local musicians. As a child, Troy would occasionally perform, at which time they had to lock the doors to keep the police from finding a minor on the premises.
Troy's older brother James, a renowned trumpet player known as the “Satchmo of the Ghetto, “ was the leader of a popular local group, the James Andrews All-Star Brass Band. By the time Troy was seven - and already a trombone prodigy - James took him on an international tour, playing the Caribbean, Europe and Saudi Arabia.
When not touring the world, Troy joined his brother playing in Jackson Square. When his brother moved on from that, young Troy formed his own pick-up band with other musically inclined kids from Trem, including current bandmate Dwayne “Big D" Williams. The group became regulars at Jackson Square, playing for spare change. “That's actually where I learned my showmanship, “ Troy explains. “If we could get people on the street to stay for an hour to watch a free set - when they can see all that other great music down the street - then that's a very powerful thing."
Shorty's grandfather, Jessie Hill, was a legendary R singer and songwriter best known for the classic top 40 hit, “Ooh Poo Pah Doo." Produced by Allen Toussaint, the song became a traditional Mardi Gras favorite. Hill went on to write songs for Ike Tina Turner, Sonny Cher and Willie Nelson.
Troy's mother ran a club she called “Trombone Shorty's" which served as a gathering place for local musicians. As a child, Troy would occasionally perform, at which time they had to lock the doors to keep the police from finding a minor on the premises.
Troy's older brother James, a renowned trumpet player known as the “Satchmo of the Ghetto, “ was the leader of a popular local group, the James Andrews All-Star Brass Band. By the time Troy was seven - and already a trombone prodigy - James took him on an international tour, playing the Caribbean, Europe and Saudi Arabia.
When not touring the world, Troy joined his brother playing in Jackson Square. When his brother moved on from that, young Troy formed his own pick-up band with other musically inclined kids from Trem, including current bandmate Dwayne “Big D" Williams. The group became regulars at Jackson Square, playing for spare change. “That's actually where I learned my showmanship, “ Troy explains. “If we could get people on the street to stay for an hour to watch a free set - when they can see all that other great music down the street - then that's a very powerful thing."
