He started early, born and raised in Tremé in New Orleans, learning how to play drums and what he remembers as "the world's smallest trumpet" at the age of three. By the time he reached six, this prodigy was playing trumpet and trombone in a jazz band led by his older brother James, himself a trumpet player of local renown who has been called "Satchmo of the Ghetto." Not long afterward, Troy formed his own band with some other musically inclined kids from Tremé, including current band mate Williams, and they became regulars at Jackson Square, playing for spare change and pulling in as much as $400 apiece on a particularly hopping weekend.
During a visit to a small New Orleans club, Bono and the Edge happened upon the trombone player, who was then 12. "We walked in and the place was jumping," the Edge recalled. "There was this little funk band, but they were all playing brass instruments, which is something I'd never heard of or seen before. We were just mesmerized by him. I ended up with Bono, after a few tequilas, dancing with a bunch of girls on the top of the bar. It was one of those sorts of nights."
He paid his dues working behind Lenny Kravitz for 18 months – Lenny rates him as ’a genius player. ..... he plays his ass off, and he’s a beautiful human being.’
He holds great store to the ‘New Orleans tradition’ of music - and, while not only carrying on that tradition and expanding its boundaries, Troy has lent a generous helping hand to the next generation as well, having given longstanding support to the city's renowned Roots of Music program. Troy was also recently honoured by being named the youngest member of the NOCCA Foundation board - the foundation behind New Orleans' Centre for the Creative Arts where Troy and several of his band members studied and began collaborating. He's also finalizing plans for his own new foundation aimed at making sure that talented younger players with limited resources can get quality instruments to play. Last September, he started his first delivery of Trombone Shorty trumpets and trombones to talented young musicians across the city.
TROMBONE SHORTY & ORLEANS AVENUE – a 200 proof power-packed performance of blistering funk, rock, jazz & RnB grooves – Don’t Miss These Guys.
Bluesfest Sideshow – TROMBONE SHORTY & ORLEANS AVENUE
WHEN: April 7
WHERE: The Corner Hotel
TIX: www.cornerhotel.com or PH: 03 9427 9198
MORE: www.tromboneshorty.com
