Live Review: Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue @ Wolf Trap — 7/24/25

There’s an iconic photograph of a young Troy Andrews — already nicknamed Trombone Shorty by his older neighborhood friends — marching in a New Orleans second line parade with a trombone nearly as tall as he was. The instrument dwarfs his small frame, perfectly capturing both his early musical passion and the vibrant street-music culture of his Tremé neighborhood.

That image came to mind as I photographed Trombone Shorty’s July 24 performance at Wolf Trap. I’d been tipped off in advance: During the band’s rendition of “When the Saints Go Marching In,” Troy and the two saxophonists from his band Orleans Avenue would leave the stage and parade through the crowd in true New Orleans fashion. I positioned myself at the top of an aisle, hoping to capture Troy as he made his way toward me. As fans gathered around, a young boy wearing protective earmuffs pushed gently to the front, eager to get a close-up glimpse of the musician.

The author used AI to assist in writing this article.

He couldn’t have been much older than Troy was in that iconic photo. And when Trombone Shorty reached out to give him a high five while marching past, the boy’s smile stretched wide — from ear muff to ear muff. Who knows what kind of inspiration that small moment may spark — maybe that kid will become the Trombone Shorty of his generation.

Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue are a perennial addition to the Wolf Trap summer calendar, and it’s not hard to understand why. Year after year, the group draws a devoted crowd, packing the Filene Center with fans ready to dance, cheer, and revel in Shorty’s genre-mashing blend of funk, rock, jazz, and hip-hop. And this year’s set? Pure fire from start to finish.

The moment the lights dimmed and the band took their positions, Shorty exploded onto the stage like a bolt of lightning, holding his trombone and trumpet triumphantly overhead like a prizefighter. He radiated the kind of kinetic energy that grabs an audience by the collar and never lets go — and he kept the dial locked at 11 all night long.

Watch a 13-year-old Trombone Shorty perform “Joe Avery’s Second Line” with Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, recorded live on Dec. 13, 2000, via YouTube:

Opening with the swaggering “Hold Up,” Shorty and Orleans Avenue immediately lit the fuse on a high-octane set. The second track, “Buckjump,” came laced with a surprise snippet of Black Sabbath’s “Iron Man,” adding a heavy riff to their signature brass-laced bounce and thrilling longtime fans with a nod to the unexpected. “Lifted” followed, delivering tight funk grooves and rich horn harmonies that gave the crowd no choice but to move.

Throughout the night, the band flexed its versatility. On “Do to Me,” Shorty’s trumpet solo soared above a sultry, soulful rhythm, while “Where It At?” brought a rock edge that showcased his band’s ability to move seamlessly between genres. The medley “Lie to Me / The Cup of Life / Ooh Na Nay” brought a taste of Latin pop and party energy, blending Ricky Martin flair with New Orleans grit.

Then came the showstopping second-line moment. The mash-up “Here Come the Girls / When the Saints Go Marching In / Everybody Needs Somebody to Love” had barely kicked off before Troy, along with saxophonists Dan Oestreicher and BK Jackson, hopped off the stage and into the audience. As they marched the aisles, blasting joyful brass and trading riffs with smiling fans, the Filene Center briefly transformed into the French Quarter. The communal joy was palpable, and it was easily the emotional peak of the evening.

“I’m Standing Here,” a thunderous collaboration originally recorded with Gary Clark Jr., came next and ratcheted the volume back up, followed by the heartfelt “Might Not Make It Home,” which struck a more introspective tone. Still, the momentum never waned — Shorty doesn’t allow it.

“Something Beautiful – Shortyville” was a slickly layered groove machine, building a celebratory vibe that rolled straight into “Hurricane Season,” the show’s stormy, horn-driven closer that left the crowd breathless and roaring for more. But this night, Shorty left it all on the stage — no encore needed. He’d already delivered a musical knockout.

Orleans Avenue deserves as much credit as their charismatic frontman. Every member played with precision and soul, but never felt locked into a script. The band’s ability to read the room — and each other — is one of their superpowers. Guitarist Pete Murano, bassist Mike Ballard, keyboardist Joey Peebles, and the aforementioned horn section moved as one, elevating the performance with every breakdown, solo, and build-up.

Trombone Shorty performs “I’m Standing Here” on the Jimmy Kimmel Live show, August 8, 2022:

As the night came to a close, fans poured out of the venue still buzzing, conversations filled with phrases like “every year, he gets better” and “that second line moment was everything.” For many, this wasn’t their first Trombone Shorty show — and it won’t be their last. He’s not just a performer; he’s an experience. And as long as he keeps returning to Wolf Trap, audiences will keep turning up to catch lightning in a bottle — one unforgettable night at a time.

Enjoy some additional photos from Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue’s July 24, 2025 performance at Wolf Trap. All images are copyrighted and courtesy of Ari Strauss.