Performing on Jeff Beck’s UK Tour is the latest highlight in Trombone Shorty’s milestone year. His career highlights date back to sitting in with Bo Diddley at the ripe age of four, but this year, powered by his Verve Forecast debut, Backatown, is one for the record books for Troy ‘Trombone Shorty’ Andrews. The CD entered the Contemporary Jazz Album chart at # 1, spending nine weeks there, before the new Herbie Hancock CD finally broke his hold on the top slot.
Whirlwind touring with one highlight after another continues this summer and fall as Trombone Shorty heads to six countries in Europe for his first full fledged tour of the continent highlighted by Festival appearances, headline shows and a coveted slot supporting Jeff Beck’s UK tour. When asked about the tour, Troy said “It is an honor to be chosen to support a legendary genius musician like Jeff Beck on his tour.”
Jeff Beck and Trombone Shorty had met before. Beck played the New Orleans Jazz Fe stival earlier this year. He was told not to miss Trombone Shorty’s sold-out show at Tipitina’s, despite the late 2:30 a.m. start. Shorty’s Tipitina’s show, which also drew celebrity fans Nicolas Cage and Tim Robbins, was a revelation for Beck and his manager, Harvey Goldsmith. When Mr. Beck performed a special birthday tribute to Les Paul at New York’s Iridium in early June, Trombone Shorty was invited to join the band for the night, an opportunity envied by the invitation only audience who represented much of the cream of America’s musicians including no shortage of guitar heroes.
Their relationship continues in October when Trombone Shorty and his Orleans Avenue band join Jeff Beck on his UK tour as part of a six-country tour of Europe. Dates with Jeff Beck are as follows:
Oct. 15 Bournemouth, BIC
Oct. 16 Brighton, Brighton Centre
Oct. 17 Birmingham, Symphony Hall
Oct. 19 Preston, Guildhall
Oct. 20 Glasgow, Clyde Auditorium
Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue did two complete knockout shows this past weekend for their Japanese debut at the acclaimed Fuji Rock Festival. In August, the band is off to Brazil for their first shows in Rio and Sao Paolo, followed by European dates for most of the month of October.
They’ll retain a strong U.S. presence as Austin City Limits will air a recently taped appearance on October 23. Ivan Neville joined Orleans Avenue for the taping, which will be packaged for airing on PBS stations with a performance by Alejandro Escovedo.
Trombone Shorty has been criss-crossing the U.S., spreading the music he has dubbed “Supafunkrock†since the release of Backatown. In addition to headlining shows and playing summer festivals across North America, from Bonnaroo to the Playboy Jazz Festival at the Hollywood Bowl (on consecutive days yet), Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue recently made their late-night TV debut on Late Night With David Letterman, in early June. Of all this touring, Troy commented that is a complete blessing to bring the music from Treme and share it with the world.
The band’s song, Hurricane Season, can be heard weekly on MTV’s The Real World, New Orleans as the opening title song. And all this is following close on the heels of Troy’s recurring role as a significant character on HBO’s Emmy-nominated Treme, where he played himself in four episodes.
Trombone Shorty on the Web: http://www.tromboneshorty.com
