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Preservation Hall Jazz Band

The Preservation Hall Jazz Band derives its name from Preservation Hall, the venerable music venue located in the heart of New Orleans’ French Quarter, founded in 1961 by Allan and Sandra Jaffe. The band has traveled worldwide spreading their mission to nurture and perpetuate the art form of New Orleans Jazz. Whether performing at Carnegie Hall or Lincoln Center, for British Royalty or the King of Thailand, this music embodies a joyful, timeless spirit. Under the auspices of current director, Ben Jaffe, the son of founders Allan and Sandra, Preservation Hall continues with a deep reverence and consciousness of its greatest attributes in the modern day as a venue, band, and record label.

The building that houses Preservation Hall has housed many businesses over the years including a tavern during the war of 1812, a photo studio and an art gallery. It was during the years of the art gallery that then owner, Larry Bornstein, began holding informal jam sessions for his close friends. Out of these sessions grew the concept of Preservation Hall. The intimate venue, whose weathered exterior has been untouched over its history, is a living embodiment of its original vision. To this day, Preservation Hall has no drinks, air conditioning, or other typical accoutrements strictly welcoming people of all ages interested in having one of the last pure music experiences left on the earth.

The PHJB began touring in 1963 and for many years there were several bands successfully touring under the name Preservation Hall. Many of the band's charter members performed with the pioneers who invented jazz in the early twentieth century including Buddy Bolden, Jelly Roll Morton, Louis Armstrong, and Bunk Johnson. Band leaders over the band’s history include the brothers Willie and Percy Humphrey, husband and wife Billie and De De Pierce, and famed pianist Sweet Emma Barrett. These founding artists and dozens of others passed on the lessons of their music to a younger generation who now follow in their footsteps like current band leader and trumpeter John Brunious.

The Preservation Hall Jazz Band at Miner Auditorium

by Thomas Cole
August 28, 2023

The Preservation Hall Jazz Band Livestreamed from SF JAZZ Miner Auditorium San Francisco, CA August 18, 2023 The dichotomy or, in more blunt terms, the extreme differences of opinion over the current course charted out by creative director and heir to the Hall, Ben Jaffe, seemingly has been fully addressed with the song selection and current configuration of the band on this most recent concert tour. Featuring their recently named musical director, Wendell ...

Live Review

The Preservation Hall Jazz Band at the Space at Westbury

by Mike Perciaccante
August 5, 2017

The Preservation Hall Jazz Band The Space at Westbury Westbury, NY July 28, 2017 The Preservation Hall Jazz Band is named after its home venue, Preservation Hall, which is located in New Orleans' fabled French Quarter. The band performs traditional New Orleans-style jazz with flavors of other genres melded to create a sound unlike any other New Orleans group. Since Preservation Hall was founded on St. Peter Street in the early '60s, membership in the ...

Book Review

The New Orleans Jazz Scene, 1970-2000: A Personal Retrospective

by Charles Suhor
May 12, 2015

The New Orleans Jazz Scene, 1970-2000: A Personal Retrospective Thomas W. Jacobsen 208 Pages ISBN: 0807156981 LSU Press 2014 Full disclosure: I've long been an admirer of Thomas Jacobsen's writing, the catholicity of his musical tastes, and his warm personal regard for jny: New Orleans musicians. The last was evident in his 2011 work for LSU Press, Traditional New Orleans Jazz: Conversations with the Men Who Make the Music, and his articles for ...

Album Review

Preservation Hall Jazz Band: That's It!

Read "That's It!" reviewed by Wade Luquet

by Wade Luquet
January 29, 2014

Fifty years is a long time to carry the torch of the music of others and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band has done just that with class, joviality, and a sense of purpose to preserve traditional New Orleans jazz music. In a step away from their mission of preservation, the band has created new music in a hall recording of their newest album That's It. It should come as no surprise that their collection of original tunes is delivered with ...

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From Far and Wide

The Ticket

by Wade Luquet
December 30, 2010

One of the perks of being a jazz writer is that I can often get free tickets to concerts. This great benefit has offered me the opportunity to take my wife to some nice jazz events and meet some interesting people. Aside from taking notes in the dark, our jazz dates are just like any other night out. OK, I must admit that shaking hands with Wynton Marsalis and Esperanza Spalding make these dates a little different, but the tickets ...

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Extended Analysis

Preservation Hall Jazz Band: Preservation

by Wade Luquet
March 1, 2010

Preservation Hall Jazz Band Preservation: An Album To Benefit Preservation Hall & The Preservation Hall Music Outreach Program Preservation Hall 2010

What do you get when you cross America's best traditional jazz band with 20 emerging or legendary musical artists? You get a terrific collection of highly listenable traditional jazz performances by a highly improbable combination of musicians and vocalists. Who would have thought to have Del McCoury sing “After You've Gone" with his ...

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Live Review

Preservation Hall Jazz Band Brings Creole Christmas to the University of Pennsylvania

by Wade Luquet
December 31, 2009

Preservation Hall Jazz Band: Creole Christmas Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA December, 12, 2009

For jazz enthusiasts, December often brings opportunities to hear their favorite bands playing Christmas-spirited tunes that bring in the holiday season. This was certainly the case for the 950 devoted listeners who had the pleasure of experiencing the Preservation Hall Jazz Band at the Annenberg Center for the Performing ...

TV / Film

Djerassi Films Presents 'Resurrection! Airto Moreira And Preservation Hall Jazz Band'

Source: Press Junkie PR
October 2, 2021

With an upcoming premiere at the Woodstock Film Festival Djerassi Films is excited to present Resurrection! Airto Moreira and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band. In this new documentary, producer/director Dale Djerassi brings two powerful forces in the world of jazz together and takes us behind the scenes as famed percussionist Airto Moreira joins the Preservation Hall Jazz Band during Mardi Gras in the Big Easy. Airto Moreira is a world-renowned jazz drummer and percussionist from Brazil, who exhibited great talent ...
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Performance / Tour

Jazz This Week: Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Oikos Ensemble, Craig Pomranz, St. Louis Rivermen, Andy Coco's Rhythm Section Road Show, and More

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman
December 7, 2012

If you feel like combining jazz and Christmas this weekend, you're in luck, as there are several holiday themed performances by local and touring musicians coming up over the next few days around the St. Louis area. And if you're not quite ready to go the full-on holiday music route just yet, you can also find funky soul-jazz, traditional New Orleans and swing music, cabaret, and more. Let's go to the highlights... Tonight, Washington University's student jazz ensembles will perform ...
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Recording

New Orleans Legends The Preservation Hall Jazz Band Celebrated With 50th Anniversary Box Set

Source: Michael Ricci
July 9, 2012

FIVE PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED TRACKS RESCUED FROM STUDIO AND RESTORED AFTER HURRICANE KATRINA � SESSIONS FEATURE PETE SEEGER (ON “WE SHALL OVERCOME"), RICHIE HAVENS, TOM WAITS, ANDREW BIRD, AND YIM YAMES (OF MY MORNING JACKET) Available everywhere September 25, 2012, through Legacy Recordings NEW YORK, NY: Fifty years after a former art gallery on St. Peter Street became a haven and platform for the surviving musicians who made New Orleans the birthplace of jazz, THE PRESERVATION HALL 50th ANNIVERSARY COLLECTION box ...
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Performance / Tour

Pollstar: Preservation Hall Jazz Band to Play the Sheldon in December

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman
March 13, 2012

The online touring information service Pollstar has just added a listing showing a performance by the Preservation Hall Jazz Band (pictured) on Sunday, December 9 at the Sheldon Concert Hall. The PHJB, the touring version of the house band at the famed New Orleans traditional music venue, has played in the St. Louis area several times in the last few years, most recently in April 2011 at the Family Arena in St. Charles as part of a joint tour with ...
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Music Industry

Pres Hall at Carnegie: MMJ, Del, Shorty, Toussaint, Mos Def

Source: JamBase
December 1, 2011

PRESERVATION HALL ANNOUNCE GUESTS FOR 50TH ANNIVERSARY CONCERT AT CARNEGIE HALL Preservation Hall Jazz Band has announced the special guests that will join them on stage for their 50th anniversary performance. On January 7, 2012 at 8:00pm they will grace the Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage at Carnegie Hall, with special guests My Morning Jacket, Del McCoury Band, Trombone Shorty, GIVERS, Allen Toussaint, Blind Boys of Alabama, Tao Seeger, & Mos Def. Tickets for what is bound to be an ...
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Music Industry

Pres. Hall Jazz Band: Carnegie Hall for 50th Anniversary

Source: JamBase
November 18, 2011

NOLA LEGENDS CELEBRATE 50TH ANNIVERSARY WITH CARNEGIE HALL SHOW ON JANUARY 7 New Orleans jazz legends Preservation Hall Jazz Band are celebrating their 50th anniversary by performing with some of their musical friends at one of the most legendary venues in the world. On January 7 they will grace the Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage at Carnegie Hall, with special guests to be announced soon. Tickets for what is bound to be an unforgettable night go on sale December 2 ...
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Festival

The Preservation Hall Jazz Band Presents Contemporary Approach to Traditional New Orleans Sound

Source: Carolyn McClair Public Relations
June 23, 2010

The Preservation Hall Jazz Band Presents Contemporary Approach to Traditional New Orleans Sound at Newport Folk Festival on Sunday, August 1

NEWPORT, RI, June 22, 2010 - Of all the acts confirmed for this year's eclectic Newport Folk Festival, perhaps none better personify the 51-year cultural institution than does the New Orleans-based The Preservation Hall Jazz Band, a half-century tradition in its own right.

Under the guidance of founder and producer George Wein, Newport Folk has long The Preservation Hall ...
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Recording

All-Star Record 'It Ain't My Fault' Aims to Assist the Gulf Coast

Source: All About Jazz
June 15, 2010

Playing to ease the pain: An all-star gathering including rapper Mos Def, Lenny Kravitz, Trombone Shorty, Tim Robbins and members of the Preservation Hall Jazz Band recently recorded “It Ain't My Fault," a single that is being released to aid the Gulf Coast oil disaster.

The high-level finger-pointing in the wake of the Gulf of Mexico oil catastrophe has inadvertently inspired some goodwill at the grass-roots level.

A benefit single and video called “It Ain't My Fault," recorded by Lenny ...
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Recording

Preservation Hall Jazz Band's 'Preservation'

Source: Michael Ricci
February 16, 2010

The unique place the Crescent City holds in American music is evident in the breadth of guests and the utter commitment in their performances with the Preservation Hall band on this project, designed to raise money to support training and mentoring of young musicians wishing to become practitioners of the century-old musical strain known as New Orleans jazz. Preservation Hall opened in the French Quarter nearly half a century ago, its mission to keep that music alive at a time ...
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Performance / Tour

Preservation Hall Jazz Band Performs a Creole Christmas at the Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts

Source: Michael Ricci
November 18, 2009

Ring in the Holiday Season at the Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts with Preservation Hall Jazz Band as they perform classic holiday hits with a jazzy New Orleans twist Philadelphia,PA -- Celebrate the Holiday Season at the Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts with an incredible, family-friendly performance guaranteed to put you in the holiday spirit! Head down to the Big Easy with Preservation Hall Jazz Band as they perform holiday classics with a twist of ragtime, blues and ...
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