Preservation Hall Jazz Band Tickets

Based in the home of jazz, New Orleans, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band takes its name from the building of that name, which was set in the city's French quarter. The hall opened in 1961 with the aim of preserving the particular style of jazz for which New Orleans is best known. The Preservation Hall Jazz Band certainly live up to their name and operate in this traditional style. Although their home has been the Preservation Hall since the band first got going in the 1960s, they tour regularly and often operate as a support act for major touring bands.

Having been in existence for the best part of half a century, it is fair to say that the Preservation Hall Jazz Band has gone through a number of lineups over the decades. The current formation has seven members. The rhythm section is made up of Walter Harris on drums, and Ben Jaffe, who plays both bass and tuba. Kyle Roussel takes to the piano, while Branden Lewis and Ronnell Johnson are on trumpet and trombone respectively. The final two members are Clint Maedgen and Charlie Gabriel, both saxophonists.

The Preservation Hall Jazz Band heritage

Few working bands can claim to have the degree of heritage that the Preservation Hall Jazz Band does. The first incarnation of the band was made up of many members drawn from the Kid Thomas Band, including Kid Thomas himself and Louis Nelson, among others. The band began to tour in the mid-1960s and travelled as far afield as Japan.

In 1967, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band took to the stage in San Francisco alongside acts such as the Grateful Dead and Steppenwolf, opening them up to a whole new range of fans. During the 1970s, the band went through various personnel changes, which included banjoist Narvin Kimball for a while. In 1977, the band performed as a part of Fat Tuesday and All That Jazz! A Mardi Gras Dance Musical, a dance music festival.

The Preservation Hall Jazz Band recent history

In 2006, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band was given the National Medal of Arts by the First Lady of the United States. At this time, the band began working on projects with other sorts of recording artists, such as the Blind Boys of Alabama, featuring on a Grammy Award-winning album with them. In 2010, the band released a recording entitled Preservation: An Album to Benefit the Preservation Hall Music Outreach Program. It featured guest vocalists, such as Dr. John, Pete Seeger and Tom Waits, on each track. They have performed with the likes of Arcade Fire and recorded with the rock band Foo Fighters in recent years.

Similar to the Preservation Hall Jazz Band

Fans of trad jazz can find tickets for the Hot 8 Brass Band or Woody Allen and his New Orleans Jazz Band at StubHub.