Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews doesn’t just play music — he pours it back into his city. And 20 years after Hurricane Katrina nearly drowned New Orleans’ cultural soul, he’s making sure the rhythm not only survives, but thrives.

From growing up in Tremé surrounded by musical royalty to headlining Jazz Fest stages around the world, Shorty’s sound is synonymous with the spirit of New Orleans. But what he’s building through the Trombone Shorty Foundation runs even deeper than funk riffs and second lines. It’s a mission to protect legacy — and push it forward.

“I realized I might be the last generation to get the music firsthand,” he told me, reflecting on the aftermath of Katrina. “Before the storm, I was learning from guys on my block — Rebirth Brass Band, Kermit Ruffins, my own family. But after the storm, people were scattered. The neighborhoods changed. I knew I had to do something to make sure the next generation could still access the culture, the education, the opportunities.”

That urgency birthed the Trombone Shorty Foundation, which now supports young musicians from across the city and even beyond its borders. Through year-round mentorship, music education, and live performance opportunities, the foundation helps students not only master their instruments but discover their identities as artists — and torchbearers of New Orleans culture.

I asked him what Katrina changed most, especially as we approach the 20th anniversary this August. “I was home for a quick break from touring with Lenny Kravitz when it hit,” he said. “After that, I went back on the road, and everywhere we went, I was seeing people who had been displaced — people from New Orleans trying to rebuild. I’d invite them to shows just to give them something that felt familiar.”

Even now, the losses still hit unexpectedly. “Sometimes I’ll be driving through the city and think, ‘Let me stop and get a po’boy.’ And then I remember that place isn’t there anymore. It’s been 20 years, but some things you don’t ever forget.”

That sense of memory — and mission — is what fuels Shorty Fest, the foundation’s annual fundraising concert and cultural celebration. It’s a chance for his students to perform on the same stages he once dreamed about as a kid. “It’s where it all comes together,” he said. “We’ve had kids from the 6th Ward, 9th Ward, even Canada and Slidell. And when they step on that Tipitina’s stage — it’s everything. I’ve seen kids cry afterward because they couldn’t believe they just played a set in Cuba or in front of 20,000 people. That’s when you know the foundation is working.”

Beyond the music, the foundation teaches discipline, professionalism, and self-worth. “Music education helps shape young minds,” he said. “You learn patience. You learn how to practice. You learn that just having talent isn’t enough — you’ve got to put in the work. That applies on stage, but also in life.”

Corporate support helps scale that mission. Since 2016, Acura has partnered with the Trombone Shorty Foundation to expand its reach, provide free student transportation, and amplify its impact nationwide. “Having a brand like Acura involved means more eyes, more ears, more access,” he said. “I remember watching the Neville Brothers play the Acura Stage at Jazz Fest when I was a kid. Now, here I am — and they’re helping tell our story.”

That kind of support makes Shorty Fest more than just another festival. “It’s a musical gumbo,” he laughed. “You’ll hear marching bands, hip-hop, second line, funk, Latin influences. We let every student bring their own style to the stage — whatever makes them feel most like themselves.”

As for first-timers heading to Jazz Fest or Shorty Fest? His advice is simple: “Get your naps in,” he joked. “You’re not going to sleep for two weeks. We’ve got parades at noon and shows at 3 a.m. It’s a marathon. Come ready.”

Trombone Shorty isn’t just protecting New Orleans’ past — he’s actively creating its future. And if the students coming out of his foundation are any indication, the next 20 years are in powerful, passionate hands.