The future path of Cuba has been in the headlines lately. Can music be the gateway to closer

relations between Americans and Cubans and help provide relief amid the economic downturn and

isolation? That's the hope of a group of high-profile musicians who've been forging a bond

between young students on and off the island. Jeffrey Brown has the first of three reports from Havana for our canvas coverage and

art in action, exploring the intersection of art and democracy.

On a rooftop under the stars in Havana, the sounds of a youthful New Orleans brass band, followed

by those of Cuban teams, members of a group called Primera Line, meaning first line, named

after the famous second line musical tradition in New Orleans.

A battle of the bands? Not really, more a blast of joy and connections.

Every time we hear them, we learn about their music because we like learning about that

culture, and it helps us teach them about what we do so they can learn as well.

They're just so energetic and they're very passionate about it, and that's what I really love. I like to see people who are passionate about what they do, doing what they love, like how I do.

A connector-in-chief of this four-day gathering, Troy Andrews, better known as Trombone Shorty,

Grammy-winning international star who fuses jazz, funk, and more.

You know, some of these kids, music is life.

When I come here, it's the same thing as New Orleans.

What they play is life here.

You know, you can hear the culture, you can hear the struggle,

you can hear the pain and the happiness

through that music.

We first met Andrews seven years ago in New Orleans.

To learn of how he got his nickname, it started out as a child, a Shorty, playing in the streets of the fame Tramaine Neighborhood, of his commitment to music, and to his

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