14-year-old’s trombone stolen at gunpoint, he gets new ‘Trombone Shorty’ model from the pro

NEW ORLEANS – A 14-year-old whose trombone was stolen at gunpoint has a new one thanks to musician Troy Andrews, much better known as Trombone Shorty.

Bill Taylor, executive director of the Trombone Shorty Foundation, said he delivered the instrument, which is engraved with the name “Trombone Shorty,” on Saturday.

“He was like speechless. And I got Troy on the phone. As soon as I gave him the horn I had Shorty on the line and gave him the phone,” Taylor said.

Andrews described the phone call in an emailed statement: “He was full of joy, thankful and happy. I think we were both very excited to speak to each other. He seems like a cool kid and I’m happy that after a situation like that, I can help to put a smile on his face.”

The foundation didn’t release the boy’s name. The mother accepted the offer of the new trombone after receiving assurances that the boy’s name wouldn’t be released because she feared for his safety.

He was walking home from band practice Thursday night in the middle-class neighbourhood around his school when a gunman jumped from a van and grabbed his shirt, demanding his trombone, New Orleans police said.

The boy yanked himself away and ran, but dropped the instrument when he heard gunshots.

The trombone was delivered before Andrews went on stage Saturday at the Newport Jazz Festival, Taylor said. Trombones cost anywhere from $80 to thousands of dollars.