The New Orleans-based group's breakout album, "Backatown," earned a 2010 Grammy nomination for successfully combining elements that include rock, hip-hop and funk with upbeat jazz instrumentation. Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews was also recognized in his hometown as "Entertainer of the Year" at the 2010 Big Easy Awards.
Andrews grew up in the Tremé neighborhood and picked up his nickname "Trombone Shorty" at four years old when he began playing in brass band parades and wielding a trombone that stood taller than he did. The horn prodigy would later go on to play with such unexpected acts as U2 and bring jazz-influenced music to concertgoers around the world.
Now 25 years old, Andrews has spent the past couple of years performing in the project Orleans Avenue, which includes Michael "Bass" Ballard, Joey "In and Out" Peebles and Dwayne "Big D" Williams on percussion. Pete "Freaky Pete" Murano plays guitar, while Dan "Uncle Potato Chip" Oestreicher and Tim McFatter comprise the remainder of the horn section on saxophones.
Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue offer up funky, gritty and infectiously fun music. The band is a melting pot of musical genres with the most prominent ingredient out in front --bombastic, jazzy horn playing that is unmistakably a product of a the renowned New Orleans music scene.
All photos by Kelsey McClure. See more at her Flickr stream.
