Blog

This month, Conversations with Curtis welcomes Ben Jaffe, Creative Director at Preservation Hall. JazzArts Charlotte has celebrated our holiday at the JAZZ ROOM with the Preservation Hall All-Stars several times to sold-out crowds.   They know how to bring the house down with their New Orleans traditional jazz sound.  But there is much more to Preservation Hall.

It’s been an unprecedented summer of jazz with the radical shifting of programs to a virtual environment and an expansion from monthly to weekly events, albeit online.  Behind the scenes, three summer interns have been a significant resource applying their fresh skill to this transition.

In catching up with a few of the All-Stars, we hear an echo of our own state of mind, and can capture a sense of encouragement. They each describe this summer as a combination of relaxing and revealing.

The legacy of Ellis Marsalis lives on in the many people that he inspired. Ocie and I are two of those lucky people.

When you speak to one of the music instructors for JazzArts Charlotte, you are talking to someone with a real love of their craft. “Music is invaluable.”