Jazz tribute by youth to kick off 2020

It’s going to be a meeting of young talent paying homage to a legend that those lucky enough to witness will remember forever.

It’s happening at the New Orleans Mint, on January 8 at 1:30 p.m. And it is a special tribute to Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong by the Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong Summer Jazz Camp, accompanied by the award-winning Jazz House Kids from Montclair, NJ.

The afternoon concert will feature separate performances by the two organizations, and then the musicians from both will come together to pay tribute to Louis Armstrong by performing a few of his classics.

The scheduled combo performance came about when the president and founder of JAZZ HOUSE KiDS, Melissa Walker, reached out to the executive director of the Louis Armstrong Summer Jazz Camp, Jackie Harris, to alert her that a group of students would be in New Orleans for a Jazz Education Network Conference in early January. The two discussed ways of getting the young musicians together on a collaborative project.

The result is the January 8 concert, which just so happens to be free to the public.

And while the concert may seem straight forward, both Walker and Harris say there was only one hurdle they had to overcome. Tight schedules all for no time for not one group rehearsal.

“Jackie sent us the musical selections the students will be performing together,” notes Ted Chubb, Director of Cultural Partnerships at the JAZZ HOUSE KiDS, who explains, “Our students are learning the music here at JAZZ HOUSE, while those who will be performing from the Louis Armstrong Summer Jazz Camp are practicing in New Orleans, and we are going to put the two groups together and let them play. We are all excited about this opportunity as it’s a unique experience for all the students to come together and perform music they love.”

Harris says her group is looking forward to the event, especially meeting other young musicians whose focus is jazz.

The Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong Summer Jazz Camp is a pre-eminent jazz education program developing the next generation of Jazz artists and preserving this great American art form. Students range between the ages of 10 to 21-years-old and must be actively involved in a music education program through school or private instructions or have studied music and primary instrument for a minimum of two years or demonstrate the ability to perform.

JAZZ HOUSE KiDS has been swinging doors open for 17 years, and its emerging musicians are soloing and singing their way to greatness. Year-round programming helps young people from all backgrounds gain an artistic edge through music, mentoring, education, and apprenticeship. Through pre-professional musical training along with community engagement and education programs, the organization uses jazz as an effective teaching tool to enhance academic achievement, dedication, and teamwork, and to cultivate tomorrow’s global citizens. JAZZ HOUSE KiDS produces the acclaimed MONTCLAIR JAZZ FESTIVAL, which attracts over 12,000 people each August and is led by six-time Grammy Award winner and Artistic Chair Christian McBride.

The Preservation Hall Foundation is a supporter of the concert.

This article originally published in the December 30, 2019 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.