WINDSOR JAZZ CONCERT SERIES 2023/24 SEASON OPENS
The nonprofit Windsor Jazz Concert Series opens its 2023/24 season at Mackenzie Hall with a major musical event for our area. The concert takes place Sunday October 1, 2023 at 2:30 p.m.
WJCS has arranged to bring to Windsor the clarinetist/sax man/vocalist Charlie Gabriel, the elder statesman and Musical Director of Preservation Hall Jazz Band in New Orleans. Last week New Orleans celebrated “Charlie Gras” marking Charlie’s 91st birthday. There were special concerts with the PHJB around the city.
Charlie was born at Charity Hospital on July 11 1932. He is the 4th generation of a prominent New Orleans musical family. He began as a teen playing in the legendary Eureka Brass Band.
In 1950 Charlie moved to Detroit and became a leading figure on that city’s music scene for 50 years. He has played with such names as Lionel Hampton, Tony Bennett, Frankie Avalon, Brenda Lee, Aretha Franklin and many Motown Records artists.
In the 2000’s while touring with his dear friend and musical colleague, the late trumpeter Marcus Belgrave (in a Salute to Louis Armstrong,) Charlie began getting offers to join Preservation Hall Jazz Band. The urge to return to his roots became too powerful and in 2009 Charlie moved back to his home town.
With his authentic New Orleans clarinet and sax style, funky singing and warm stage presence, Charlie immediately became a PHJB fan favourite on tours to major stages around the world, playing on a Grammy-Award nominated album and making other well-received new recordings. Charlie Gabriel became, and is, the beloved STAR of Preservation Hall Jazz Band. Musicians consider Charlie to be New Orleans jazz royalty. (see YOUTUBE of CBS TV Sunday Morning, interview with Ted Koppel)
Adding importance to Charlie’s Windsor appearance, WJCS will reunite him with one of his Detroit students. Charlie gave lessons to Kasan Belgrave, the son of his friend Marcus. Now 24, Kasan has quickly become one of Detroit’s top jazz musicians. Aretha Franklin had Kasan recording for her before her passing. In spring 2023 Wynton Marsalis invited Kasan to join The Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra for a two week tour of the eastern U.S. and an appearance at Orchestra Hall, Detroit.
