New Orleans-inspired musical celebration gets Pittsburghers moving and grooving

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — Pittsburgh’s Hill District looked a little more like New Orleans’ French Quarter on Friday.

Dozens of seniors gathered along Roberts Street in the Hill District to move around and relax over a jazz lunch at the August Wilson House.

This event was organized by Brenda Tate, the founder of Senior Jazz Connection, who says jazz for her and this group of seniors makes them feel young again.

“It touches you like no other music can. It speaks to your heart,” Tate said.

Tate is a 40-year veteran of the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police. Tate said when she retired, she still wanted to find a way to serve and bring some joy to other seniors in Oakland and the Hill District. And what started in 2022 as a few lunches with jazz music in city skyscrapers has turned into big events like this.

“It’s magical,” Tate said. “The magic happens every time we bring senior jazz to these places. To see the people that I grew up with in the community, now we’ve gotten older and now we’re still smiling and it brings out the smile.”

One of the people who experienced this musical magic Friday was Marlene Ellis of the Hill District.

“This event is fantastic,” Ellis said. “It’s for seniors, it’s free, we have lunch and we hear great jazz. And it’s in the Hill District area, and you can’t go wrong with that.”

When Ellis was asked if she would like to see more events like this for seniors, she said she absolutely would.

If you would like to book a Senior Jazz Connection session or get more information, you can email them at [email protected].