'Music has the power to heal': Fresh Coast Jazz brings live music to patients at Children's Wisconsin

 

WAUWATOSA, Wis. (CBS 58) – The Fresh Coast Jazz Festival is happening Thursday through Sunday at the Pabst Theater, but some artists took their instruments on the road, all in an effort to brighten the day for others.

Thursday marked the second year of Jazz on the Plaza at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, bringing five talented jazz artists from around the world together to entertain patients.

"Families here are going through a lot," said Leslie Scott, a certified child life specialist at Children's Wisconsin. "One thing that Milwaukee and our communities surrounding does really well is they bring music to the community, and we want to make sure that kids and their families still have access to an experience like that."

The event is hosted by Fresh Coast Jazz Festival, and it's sure to become an annual tradition at the hospital.

Dozens of young patients, their families, and hospital staff took a trip out to the main plaza to enjoy live jazz Thursday, including popular songs for kids.

Fresh Coast's CEO Carl Brown said he came up with the idea when his own father was in hospice, and they received an act of kindness.

He wanted to spread that same kindness and care through music.

"These are professional musicians who play because music is a part of them," Brown said. "They know that music has the power to heal, to uplift, to make people happy, and to sometimes just take a bad situation and allow you to disappear from it for a while."

For those who were not able to leave their hospital bed, Children's Wisconsin livestreamed the event.

Brown said some artists are already booked for next year.