6th Annual Shorty Fest Is Why Music Education Matters

Just one night a year during the Jazz & Heritage Festival, the Trombone Shorty Foundation puts our mission to “play it forward” into action with a must-experience festival featuring some of the biggest bands in NOLA at the legendary House of Blues New Orleans. On May 3rd, there was no shortage of the signature sound of the city – big, bold, rooted in tradition, and one heck of a show. There were performances from Tank & The Bangas, Waterseed, New Breed Brass Band, The Soul Rebels, a close-out set from Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue and many more, but the real stars were the Trombone Shorty Academy students.

The Academy students take the stage like naturals, and they really enjoy themselves up there. Those who support the foundation get to hear the results of a well-rounded jazz education, and those who’ve never heard them play before are simply blown away. Every Shorty Fest grows the movement to preserve and perpetuate the music through the next generation and beyond. Like with anything else in this unique city, you’ve just got to see and hear it to believe it.

With a unique collection of auction items, supporting the foundation has never been more fun. Our friends and patrons donated for chances to win a trombone signed by Trombone Shorty himself, a cookbook and gift card from Emeril Lagasse Foundation, sunglasses by Krewe, Razor scooters, original art, and great VIP bundles for Jazz Fest and the Hollywood Bowl from presenting sponsor, Acura. The crescendo of the evening was the all-out bidding war for a painting of Trombone Shorty created live during the performance by John Bukaty – a one-of-a-kind piece for a one-of-a-kind night.

For those who couldn’t make it, we shared performance videos and other highlights on live social media, and you can still check those out on Facebook.