The closing of jazz venues across the city has left musicians with no way of making a living, but a foundation created by a jazz legend is offering help.
Jazz great Louis Armstrong grew up dirt poor in New Orleans and when he settled in Corona, Queens he did not forget his roots.
As the story goes, Armstrong carried a $100 bill around in his pocket just in case anyone needed help.
That generosity lives on with the Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation, which is handing out $1,000 grants to 1,000 musicians who have been sidelined by coronavirus.
"Almost all of them said they would be buying food and groceries, paying rent and insurance," said executive director Jackie Harris. "In most cases they don't have insurance or have any other means of support."
Foundation President and Artistic Director of Jazz at Lincoln Center, Wynton Marsalis, reflects on one of Satchmo's sayings.
"I'm going to give back a little bit of the goodness that was given to me in my life and this foundation was started with his money," said Marsalis. "He lifted so many people's spirits and hearts. He was the type of person if he had something, you had something."
This is a difficult time for Marsalis. His father, jazz pianist Ellis Marsalis Jr., died last month from coronavirus. But Marsalis is putting his own grief aside for the greater good.
"I'm just doing what I know he would want me to do. I'm even calling more people thanking them when they give to the Jazz at Lincoln Center, when they give to the Armstrong Foundation," said Marsalis. "From a global standpoint we all are in some type of pain and we have to heal that pain by affirming the things that our loved ones taught us and would wish for us."
The foundation wishes to help more musicians and donations would be greatly appreciated as it prepares for a second round of assistance.
"Everything you give will go directly to a freelance musician," Marsalis said.
Music is sustaining Marsalis through the pandemic in this personally painful time. When he sees people isolated in their apartments throwing open their windows and rejoicing in song he calls it life affirming.
"It's just the human spirit, it's what we are as human beings. I love it. I love when I saw people singing on their balconies, I love everything about it," he said.
In these darks times, Marsalis offers some words of encouragement: there will be Jazz at Lincoln Center again.
"The second that it's safe, we will all be out gathering again," Marsalis said.
To help, visit louisarmstrongfoundation.org.
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