In New Orleans, music is everywhere: the clubs, the churches, the streets, the schools, and in the air. It’s celebrated as an essential part of life—past, present and future. Louis Armstrong said it best: “What we play is life.” America’s original musical art form—jazz—originated here, and over time so did many other styles-rhythm and blues, funk, and rock and roll.

Through the years these traditions have been handed down from one generation to the next. New Orleans musicians understand the importance of teaching the younger ones this heritage, allowing them to carry on the city’s vibrant musical culture that continues to make our city such an exceptional place.

In the passage above, the Trombone Shorty Foundation describes music’s impact in New Orleans, Louisiana, specifically in Grammy-nominated musician Troy Andrews‘ home neighborhood of the Tremé.

This is also the setting in Andrews’ autobiographical picture book Trombone Shorty (Bookshop, Amazon), co-written by Bill Taylor and illustrated by Bryan Collier.

Golden Globe-winning and Oscar®-nominated actress Angela Bassett reads this Caldecott Honor Book and Coretta Scott King (Illustrator) Award Winner in the SAG-AFTRA Foundation’s Storyline Online video above.