Trombone Shorty

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5 Top Midwest Stories This Week From Changing Gears

Politics is front of mind here in the Midwest. We’re also thinking about what to wear, watch, and where our friends went. Here’s a roundup of our top Changing Gears stories this week.

WiSCONSIN: Niala Boodhoo went to Madison, where she showed us how union members are still protesting a year after Gov. Scott Walker eliminated public employee collective bargaining rights. She reported on how they’re faring.

RIGHT TO WORK: Indiana is now the nation’s 23rd Right to Work state, only two months after Gov. Mitch Daniels made the legislation one of his top priorities. Will Michigan be next?

MIDWEST MIGRATION: Our Public Insight team has been tracking the stories of people who’ve left our states. There’s still time for our exiles to call us and leave messages for the folks back home. Meanwhile, read much more on our dedicated page.

T-SHIRTS: If you seek a Midwest t-shirt, look about you. Dustin Dwyer found our states are chock full of small companies making t-shirts that represent our region.

DIY DETROIT: Have you found that all those documentary films about Detroit are starting to look the same? Dustin offers you a how-to kit for making your own Detroit documentary.

Finally, a shout out to Troy “Trombone Shorty,” who sings the Changing Gears theme. He’s been immortalized by the New Orleans Jazz Fest.

Trombone Shorty Gets The Ultimate New Orleans Honor

Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews is special to us at Changing Gears. He gave us his song “Right to Complain,” for the Changing Gears theme song. He’s doing his part to help kids in New Orleans, in the same way that people are trying to help out in the Midwest.

Trombone Shorty

Now, Andrews has gotten the ultimate New Orleans honor. He’s the subject of this year’s Jazz and Heritage Festival poster. It’s called Porch Song, and shows Andrews on the porch of his home in Treme. The artist is Terrance Osborne.

Andrews, 25, is joining a heralded group of musicians who’ve appeared on the poster, including Irma Thomas, Allen Toussaint, Louis Prima, Jimmy Buffett, and Fats Domino.

We talked to him not long after Changing Gears went on the air in 2010. Hear his interview a few months ago with our friends Greg Kot and Jim DeRogatis on Sound Opinions, from our partner station WBEZ.

Trombone Shorty and Changing Gears

Trombone Shorty, real name Troy Michael Andrews, has deep roots in New Orleans, his home town, but he’s also breaking new ground as a musician, singer, and song writer in contemporary jazz.

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In December, he earned his first Grammy nomination for his album Backatown. That’s where you’ll find Right to Complain, the theme song for Changing Gears. Andrews took time out from a recent appearance in Cleveland to talk with me for the Changing Gears podcast. Continue reading

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Trombone Shorty’s Grammy Nomination

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Congrats to New Orleans musician Troy Andrews, better known as Trombone Shorty. He snagged a Grammy nomination in contemporary jazz on Wednesday night for his album, Backatown. Andrews’ song Right to Complain is the Changing Gears theme song, with lyrics by P.J. Morton. Read the list of nominees here.

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