How to Be a Career Creative

Ashli St. Armant aka Jazzy Ash is a vocalist, writer, arts educator and a Queer Black mother of two boys based in Los Angeles who spent much of her youth in New Orleans.

She is the founder of Leaping Lizards Music, a music and theater education program for students K-12 and is a professionally trained vocalist and actor who attended the Orange County High School of the Arts and holds a degree in Child Development from Saddleback College.

Alongside teaching, writing, and raising her two sons, Ashli tours with her band, Jazzy Ash and the Leaping Lizards, a jazz band for young audiences. Together they have produced five albums featured by NPR and L.A. Times, and have performed at numerous venues including Lincoln Center and Sprout Network.

The recently released and rave reviewed Viva Durant and the Secret of the Silver Buttons is Ashli’s debut middle grade novel.

Meet Jazzy Ash

BGA: Is your love for the arts and an education in child development what led you to create Leaping Lizards Music?

Ashli: Yes! I’ve found this wonderful little niche where I can live and work in the intersection of both my passions – the arts and child development. I absolutely love what I do, and I still can’t believe I get to do this for a living.

BGA: Who makes a great Leaping Lizards student?

Ashli: Anyone! Over the last twelve years, I’ve developed programs for students from all demographics – babies, seniors, trans kids, teen moms, students with learning disabilities, librarians, you name it! What I find most exciting about the arts is that they can bring folks together and inspire them in a way that nothing else can. It’s like magic!

BGA: Are your sons musical?

Ashli: Kind of? Hahaha! My kids are more interested in visual arts and computer science. They are both pretty talented in that way.

Believe or not, my own kids don’t think I’m cool. The posh thing for them to do as teenagers is to think that my work is boring. But, occasionally I can coerce them to sing with me.

BGA: What inspired the story of your children’s book, Viva Durant and the Secret of the Silver Buttons?

Ashli: My family is from New Orleans on my mother’s side. I spent many summers and holidays in New Orleans when I was growing up, but I really didn’t get to explore the city until I was an adult. I now I know how fascinating the city is!

So, Viva is sort of a re-imagined version of my childhood, if I had had the chance to get lost in the city back then.

BGA: How can we request you to perform live in our town, when covid is over?

Ashli: I can’t wait to get back on the road. Inquirers for performances should contact my agent, Sarah McCarthy at dandelionartists.com.