Jazz is the American Music

Last night I was at the Chicago Theater and saw the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra, Allen Toussaint, Haley Reinhardt, Kurt Elling, and the Preservation Hall Band. Irvin Mayfield was the master of ceremonies ie the conductor.

He connected with the crowd and brought out some true jazz greats with Chicago roots to play. It was amazing. Chicago and New Orleans have a great jazz history together. Musicians that made their name in New Orleans, made their fame in Chicago.

Haley Reinhardt has an incredible voice. She did an Ella Fitzgerald thing with Irvin and a 17 year old trombonist making his stage debut in Chicago.

Jazz is the music that truly embodies the spirit of America. It’s constant, constantly remaking itself, different people keep the beat at different times, and different instruments take center stage, the conductor of the band sometimes sings, sometimes plays-riffs happen and it’s never the same way twice. Anyone can play. All instruments. Yet, there is a fabric and a core set of rules that hold it all together. There is nothing like it.

If you ever get to NOLA, stop by Irvin’s club. Open 365 days a year.
As the Preservation Hall Band says, “That’s It.”