Troy Andrews turns 40 this year, and New Orleans is throwing him a party worth the milestone. On April 25th, Trombone Shorty’s Treme Threauxdown returns to the Saenger Theatre during Jazz Fest for its tenth anniversary, and this edition doubles as a full-scale birthday celebration for one of the city’s most essential musical figures.
The lineup for “Shorty Turns 40” is stacked in every direction. Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue headline, joined by Leon Bridges, Eric Church, Joan Jett, Branford Marsalis, Ivan Neville, George Porter Jr., Grace Potter, Jill Scott, Mavis Staples, and Irma Thomas. That’s not a supporting cast. That’s a room full of legends showing up for one of their own.
The Treme Threauxdown has built its reputation on spontaneity and all-star sit-ins, with past editions bringing out Jon Batiste, Allen Toussaint, Usher, Gary Clark Jr., and Dr. John. This year’s tenth anniversary raises the stakes considerably, blending funk, jazz, soul, rock, and New Orleans brass tradition inside one of the city’s most storied theaters.
Blackbird Presents has made the Saenger Theatre a cornerstone of the Jazz Fest after-hours experience, with previous events including tributes to The Band, Dr. John, and The Neville Brothers. “Shorty Turns 40” fits squarely into that tradition, and then some.