Reeds player Charlie Gabriel is a fourth generation musician from New Orleans who began playing professionally at age 11 with the Eureka Brass Band upon the urging of his father. The Gabriels moved to Detroit in the 1940s, where as a teen, Charlie was asked to join Lionel Hampton’s band, and by his 20s was leading the hard-bop and pre-Motown movement with best friend, trumpeter Marcus Belgrave. Gabriel also performed in Aretha Franklin’s orchestra. 60 years later and upon his return to New Orleans, Preservation Hall invited Charlie to play where at 92 years young now, he plays the Hall and enjoys collaborating with master pianist Larry Sieberth at Snug.