Since the release of Backatown earlier this year, Troy Andrews has appeared on Late Night with David Letterman, taped a set for Austin City Limits, performed with the Dave Matthews Band before the Saints game on opening day, and was cast in HBO’s highly regarded Treme, all while laying down his “supafunkrock” on tour with Orleans Avenue.
Still, the 24-year-old multi-instrumentalist, better known as Trombone Shorty, is characteristically modest. “It’s a blessing,” he claims. “I never expect anything. I just let it happen, whatever it’s going to be. I try to do my part to do a solid show, a solid record. It’s been a great experience and took me to the next level.”
Besides Matthews, who the band tours with later this year, Andrews has worked with some stellar names: U2, Green Day, Allen Toussaint, and Lenny Kravitz. They’ll also soon head to Europe to open some shows for Jeff Beck.
“I’ve always dreamed about playing with Dave Matthews,” he says. “I actually thought about it silently to myself earlier this year and it happened. It’s crazy that we’re going to go on tour with them. I have a couple of people that I’m interested in playing with: Jay-Z, Stevie Wonder, and Garth Brooks.”
Wait, the king of contemporary country music?
“That’s what I like, doing things that nobody would think of. As long as the music is there I could fit in where I need to fit in. I’m pretty sure that we could find a groove and I’d find my spot.”
As far as an acting career, Andrews is a bit more cautious. “The more acting I do, the more interested I am in it,” he explains. “But right now I’m focusing on continuing to build my music career. If a movie role or something comes up, I’ll jump on it. I’m interested in the learning the discipline of doing it. It’s kind of like practicing with my horn.”
Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue plays the Austin City Limits Music Festival Sunday, Oct. 10, at 4pm.
This article appears in October 1 • 2010.