To the bone

In the wrong hands, super-funk-rock—which combines the rawness of rock ’n’ roll with the energy of funk—might come off as hokey. Don&Rsquo;t worry, though—Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews has it all under control. Borrowing from the interpretive nature of jazz and the rawness of hip-hop, the trombonist has carved out quite a niche for himself. Seen through the eyes of a corporation, the kid is pure marketing potential: extremely talented, soulful and handsome. And it doesn&Rsquo;t hurt that he’s a prodigy. Raised in New Orleans’ jazz-rich Treme neighborhood, Trombone Shorty, a band leader since the age of 6, performs each time as if he’s giving an unforgettably riveting speech. Using his horn, he cries, laughs, commands and convinces the crowd until they are swaying to his lead, forgetting time and place and focusing solely on the message: the music. And he does all this while almost shirtless.

He’s performed with U2 and Green Day and will play a special set at Marilyn&Rsquo;s on K (between 9th and 10th streets) on Wednesday, May 21. The 21-and-over show begins at 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 and may be purchased at www.marilynsonk.com.