Without a nationally distributed album to his credit, Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews has toured the world many times over, played festivals like Bonnaroo and Jazzfest, even co-headlined the Fillmore in San Francisco.
He's only 24, but he's already a veteran live performer with a history that stretches back two decades.
As a four year old growing up in New Orleans' Treme neighborhood, Troy used to carry a Big Wheel on his shoulder and pretend it was a tuba. His friend Dwayne "Big D" Williams - who today still plays in Troy's band, Orleans Avenue - improvised percussion instruments using Coke bottles and tree branches.
By age seven, Andrews was touring internationally with his brother in the James Andrews All Star Brass Band.
Bono and the Edge caught a twelve-year-old Andrews performing in a Treme club, and The Edge commented, "We were just mesmerized by him." Years later, Andrews would join U2 and Green Day onstage for the reopening of the Superdome after Hurricane Katrina.
By age 18, just after graduating from high school, Andrews toured the world as a member of Lenny Kravitz's band. "Shorty's a genius," says Kravitz, "he plays his ass off and he's a beautiful human being."
Andrews credits Kravitz as a mentor in helping him develop his stagecraft, and high energy funk rock performances (which have been known to last up to five hours!). Kravitz also appears on Andrews' forthcoming album 'Backatown' (April 20/Verve).
In addition to the album release, Trombone Shorty will return to Jazzfest for a main-stage performance plus appear at Bonnaroo and Japan's Fuji Rock Festival. He'll also make his debut at the Playboy Jazz Festival at the Hollywood Bowl. This twenty-year veteran may be on the cusp of becoming an overnight sensation.
Trombone Shorty on the web:
http://www.shorefire.com/clients/tromboneshorty/http://www.myspace.com/tromboneshorty 
