On Wednesday, April 18, some Fountainebleu High School students will get to perform with a member of New Orleans royalty. The Dew Drop JazzKids program and special guest Jason Marsalis will present an evening of musical performance under band director Lee Hicks. The celebrated drummer and vibraphonist will join the kids at the Mandeville High School auditorium, where the free event will be housed beginning at 7 p.m.

The Dew Drop JazzKids program is a music education initiative founded by Friends of the Drew Dop, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving the historic Dew Drop Jazz Hall in Old Mandeville. Since 2015, the JazzKids program has included over 7,500 students in 25 schools all free of charge thanks to support from the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation and generous local donors.

Jason Marsalis released Melody Reimagined: book 1 earlier this year on Basin Street Records. Check out our review of Jason Marsalis and the 21st Century Trad Band Melody Reimagined: book 1 here.

For more information on the April 18 event, click here.