Glen David Andrews, is a native son, a beloved musician and one of the most iconic voices of New Orleans. He is a warrior for cultural preservation at a time when indigenous traditions are being threatened in the city.
His commanding voice and fierce trombone sound-both a powerful, emotional, a resonant blend of smoothness and grit-as well as his disarmingly honest manner provide a musical experience that never fails to meet the moment.
Glen’s music is packed with beauty, hard-earned truths, compassion, humor, anger, joy, and-most of all-hope.
Glen comes from a storied and extended family of musicians. He was born in New Orleans’ historic Treme neighborhood, which many consider to be the oldest Black community in the United States. Transfixed by the magic and mystery of the city’s second-line parades, Andrews and his older brother DerrickTabb of the Rebirth Brass Band along with their younger cousin Troy “TromboneShorty” Andrews, learned the history of the brass band tradition firsthand from iconic figures such as Tuba Fats.
Glen has been touring the world since the age of 14, was a member of the Newbirth Brass Band, Lil’ Rascals, Treme Brass Band and the Rebirth Brassband, bringing equal measures of musicianship and showmanship to each band.
He now fronts his own high-powered ensemble that expertly fuses traditions ranging from jazz to gospel to rock to blues and funk, all in the same show, sometimes in the same song! GDA has a powerful stage presence and his abilityto connect with his audience is tangible. Whether it’s 100 people or 10,000 people, Glen gets the crowd fully engaged right out of the gates and keeps them moving til they just can’t dance anymore!
In recent years, he began making headliner status at the prestigious New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, considered the world’s biggest block party.
Glen has also made notable appearances at the Voodoo Music Experience,Chicago Folk and Roots Festival, Houston International Festival, The Lincoln Center, Joe’s Pub, Levon Helm Studios, Kansas City’s American Jazz Museum, and many more.