The Newcomb Department of Music at Tulane University recently hosted a retirement celebration honoring vocalist, educator, and trailblazer Leah Chase-Kamata, marking the close of nearly two decades of transformative teaching and artistic leadership.
Chase-Kamata, a member of one of New Orleans’ most storied families, is the daughter of the late Leah and “Dooky” Chase, who ran the landmark Dooky Chase Restaurant beginning in 1941. While the Chase name is synonymous with the city’s culinary and cultural history, Chase-Kamata’s own enduring legacy stands firm as a musician and educator.
Joining the Newcomb faculty almost 20 years ago, Chase-Kamata became Tulane’s first instructor of jazz voice, a role she held exclusively until her retirement last fall. Over the course of her tenure, the program she helped shape evolved in both name and mission, ultimately becoming Black American Music (BAM). Colleagues noted that few educators were better suited to guide students through the history and practice of the topic that was at once both broad and intimate.
“Her approach to singing and teaching constantly invited deeper questions,” said Matt Sakakeeny, department chair, during the program. “What is jazz? What is Black American Music?”
Sakakeeny shared that through her pedagogy and performance, Chase-Kamata encouraged students to explore those questions not as fixed definitions, but as living, expansive traditions.
Classically trained at Loyola University and the Juilliard School, Chase-Kamata brought formidable technical grounding to her teaching. Her musical career, however, has never been confined to a single genre. In addition to jazz recordings, she has performed cabaret, pop, and musical theater, modeling for students the stylistic breadth and adaptability at the heart of Black American musical expression.
Few audience members were surprised to learn that Chase-Kamata’s voice has reached listeners far beyond New Orleans and Tulane’s campus. But they were surprised to learn that she can be heard singing “Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans” in Tiana’s Bayou Adventure at Disneyland, a fitting tribute connecting her artistry to the city that has shaped her life and work.
Thursday night’s celebration featured performances by a wide range of artists whose careers and studies intersected with Chase-Kamata’s teaching. Alumni Mathilde Pellegrini and James Jordan returned to honor their former mentor, joined by current BAM students Amelia Chase (no relation), Tiondria Norris, and bassist Max Moran.
The program also highlighted continuity within the department. Legendary jazz vocalist Germaine Bazzle performed alongside current BAM professors Dr. Courtney Bryan, Jesse McBride, Peter Varnado, and LaTasha Bundy, underscoring the community Chase-Kamata helped build. The evening closed with a performance from Tonya Boyd Cannon, newly appointed as BAM voice faculty, who will continue the legacy Chase-Kamata created.
Throughout the evening, speakers and performers emphasized that Chase-Kamata’s greatest impact may lie not only in her musical versatility, but in her commitment to students. As both a performer and a teacher, she demonstrated the richness, diversity, and multiplicity within Black American Music, encouraging young artists to honor tradition while finding their own voices.
As the final applause faded, the message of the night was clear: Leah Chase-Kamata’s influence on Tulane, New Orleans, and generations of singers will continue to resonate long after her retirement.