Trombone Shorty (Troy Andrews) is a famous trombonist who began playing in bands as early as 4 years old. Not only does he play trombone, but more recently he has begun careers as a producer, actor, and even as a philanthropist. Known for his excellent talent for jazz, Troy has released a multitude of hit songs including his most famous, Backatown, which was able to reach Number 1 on Billboard’s Contemporary Jazz charts. Not only has Trombone Shorty released a variety of popular jazz songs, he has also made many popular appearances at concerts, at an NCAA men’s game, and even at the White House for former president Barack Obama. Wanting to help schools and students in his hometown New Orleans, Troy started “The Trombone Shorty Foundation” in which he helped to donate quality instruments with a mission of “preserving and perpetuating the unique musical culture of New Orleans by passing down its traditions to future generations of musicians”. Troy is more than a performer; he is someone who loves to give back to his community.
Regarding Troy’s most well-known performance, it is him at age 13 being featured with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis from 2000 playing “Joe Avery’s 2nd Line”. Hearing the first notes of the band play, it is easy to tell what excellent musicians are on stage, enjoying every second of what they are playing, grooving out to the beat. Being much younger than the other performers, at first glance Trombone Shorty may seem unworthy to be in the presence of such stellar performers, but at the sound of his first note, all suspicions diminish, and you are engulfed in his pure and rich solo. In contrary to his shy appearance in the beginning, Troy really gets into his performance and you can tell he means business with every articulation and move of the slide. The camera moves around and shows the expressions of the other performers on stage with him to show their shocked faces at how astonished they are with this 13-year-old boy’s playing. A controversial subject regarding this video is how Trombone Shorty puffs his left cheek out while playing. A correct “textbook” embouchure would be to keep both cheeks tucked in, but Troy does the opposite. In response to this, as a Duke Ellington quote says, “If it sounds good, it IS good”. Even in the present day, Trombone Shorty plays with his cheeks puffed out, showing that even unconventional styles of playing are acceptable from a great player. If someone were to close their eyes and listen to his wonderful tone and jazz riffs, they would not be able to discern an incorrect embouchure by ear. Being in the presence of such well-renowned musicians and a full audience, it must have been very nerve racking for a 13 year old to be performing. Beginning his career at such a young age, Trombone Shorty really showed his potential and was able to live up to his high expectations in creating such a successful present-day career for himself.
