James Andrews, Dr. John, Donald Harrison, Trombone Shorty, Mark

Biography

James Andrews, born January 12, 1969, in New Orleans, Louisiana, grew up in the Tremé neighborhood immersed in music from a young age. Grandson of R&B pioneer Jesse 'Ooh-Poo-Pah-Doo' Hill, who wrote the classic song of the same name and played drums for artists like Professor Longhair and Huey 'Piano' Smith, Andrews was exposed to gospel, R&B, funk, and jazz in his family environment. As a child, he tap danced and shined shoes in the French Quarter before picking up the trumpet, alongside brothers Terry, Bruce, and cousin Leonard, forming early groups that played for tips around Jackson Square. He advanced through brass bands including the Treme Brass Band, Junior Olympia Brass Band, and New Birth Brass Band, while taking music lessons in school to hone his skills.

Fun Facts

• Nicknamed 'Satchmo of the Ghetto' for his bold trumpet style evoking Louis Armstrong in the Tremé neighborhood, also known as '12'.
• As a child, Andrews tap danced in the French Quarter, shined shoes on Bourbon Street, and formed the All-Stars Brass Band with siblings, performing at the World's Fair for Chrysler and traveling to Milan, Italy, as their first out-of-town gig.
• Contributed to the 2011 Grammy-nominated soundtrack for HBO's 'Treme' and performed at Jazz at Lincoln Center's Tribute to Louis Armstrong Festival for two seasons.
• Raised his younger brother Trombone Shorty, ensuring he had musical opportunities amid the dangerous streets of Tremé.

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Jesse Hill - grandfather and early musical influence (exposed to R&B and gospel traditions) [childhood]
• Allen Toussaint - protégé and producer (Satchmo of the Ghetto album (1998)) [1990s]
• Danny Barker - played with the multi-instrumentalist (various performances) [early career]

Key Collaborators

• Dr. John - featured on album tracks and performances (Satchmo of the Ghetto (1998)) [1990s]
• Trombone Shorty (Troy Andrews) - younger brother and bandmate in family groups (early All-Stars Brass Band, family performances) [childhood onward]
• Dizzy Gillespie - performed with jazz legend (live performances) [early career]
• Quincy Jones - performed with (live performances) [career]
• Crescent City All-Stars - leader of his own band (The Big Time Stuff album, regular performances) [1980s-present]

Artists Influenced

• Trombone Shorty (Troy Andrews) - older brother and mentor who helped raise him musically (early exposure through family bands) [childhood]
• Glen David Andrews - cousin influenced by family brass band style (incorporates Trombone Shorty licks on trombone) [family tradition]

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia