Trombone Shorty’s “Getting Funky in Havana” Pilgrimage with George Clinton, Taj Mahal, Cimafunk, JoJo Hermann Big Freedia and More (A Photo Gallery)
From Jan. 16-20, Trombone Shorty flew out to Cuba for another thrilling iteration of his “Getting Funky in Havana” pilgrimage. For the fourth-annual presentation of the cultural exchange mission created in partnership between the Trombone Shorty Foundation and Cuba Educational Travel, the New Orleans brass-funk torchbearer brought the program to new heights with an all-star cast of collaborators eager to promote mutual artistic understanding and continued development of the rich Afro-Caribbean sonic culture.
Among the roughly 230 musicians and actors who embarked for the Caribbean were tremendous talents like George Clinton, Taj Mahal, JoJo Hermann, Grace Potter, Yola, Valerie June, Maurice ‘MoBetta’ Brown and Robert Randolph, as well as NOLA powerhouses Big Freedia, Galactic vocalist Anjelika ‘Jelly’ Joseph and Big Chief Juan Pardo. The visiting ambassadors joined forces with local favorites like Cimafunk and Los Van Van for concerts, workshops, panels and open jam sessions. As always, youth music education was at the event’s core, and the exceptional lineup supported students from Shorty Academy and Havana in their efforts to bridge barriers and foster cultural exchange through the universal language of music.
Get an inside look at “Getting Funky in Havana” 2025 in the gallery below, courtesy of photographer Pete McBride.
Trombone Shorty’s next big engagement is Shorty Fest 2025, set to return to New Orleans’ iconic Tipitina’s on April 28. Shorty’s 12th annual event, presented by Acura, will land between the two weekends of New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival to provide more thrills for fans in The Big Easy with both an indoor event and an outdoor block party. Shorty Fest will host performances from Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Black Opry Revue and students from the Trombone Shorty Academy, as well as a New Jersey Takeover helmed by Dogs In A Pile and featuring guest-spots from Robert Randolph and Jake Clemons. For tickets and more information, visit tipitinas.com.
