Preservation Brass & the Preservation Hall Jazz Band

Biography

Preservation Brass & the Preservation Hall Jazz Band appears to refer to the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, a legendary New Orleans ensemble founded in 1961 at Preservation Hall in the French Quarter. The venue began as an art gallery run by Larry Borenstein in the 1950s, where he hosted local jazz musicians like George Lewis, Sweet Emma Barrett, and Kid Thomas Valentine to attract visitors. In 1961, art enthusiasts Allan and Sandra Jaffe, visiting from Pennsylvania after their honeymoon, were captivated by the traditional New Orleans jazz performances and took over management, renaming it Preservation Hall to preserve the music of aging pioneers who had invented or learned jazz directly from its creators.

Allan Jaffe, a tuba player with a Wharton business background, assembled the band from elderly local musicians facing poverty and racism, emphasizing authenticity with no alcohol, amplification, or advertising. In 1963, he launched international tours starting in the Midwest, taking the band to Japan, Thailand, the Fillmore West with the Grateful Dead, and beyond, while releasing early albums like 'Sweet Emma and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band' (1964). Leadership passed through figures like the Humphrey brothers (Percy on trumpet, Willie on clarinet) in the 1970s-80s, with members including Cie Frazier (drums), Narvin Kimball (banjo), and Jim Robinson (trombone). After Allan's death in 1987, Sandra and son Benjamin Jaffe continued, with Benjamin playing tuba and leading since 1995, integrating younger apprentices like Wendell Brunious and surviving challenges like Hurricane Katrina.

The band's musical style is rooted in traditional New Orleans jazz, blending brass band, swing, ragtime, and Cajun elements, performed with rollicking energy. Their legacy endures through global tours, recordings, collaborations with modern artists, the Preservation Hall Music Outreach Program post-Katrina, and the 2006 National Medal of Arts, embodying the unbreakable spirit of New Orleans.

Fun Facts

• The Jaffes rented the original Preservation Hall space for just $400 a month in 1961, turning a simple art gallery into a global jazz icon without amplification or alcohol.
• Early tours paired the band with rock acts like the Grateful Dead at Fillmore West and Steppenwolf, bridging traditional jazz with 1960s counterculture.
• French clarinetist Michel Sebastiani, who played at Preservation Hall, later became an Olympic fencing coach for the U.S. national team.
• Post-Hurricane Katrina, the band launched the Music Outreach Program to preserve musicians and music, reinforcing their dedication despite displacement.

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Larry Borenstein - Art dealer who initiated jazz performances at the gallery space that became Preservation Hall (Founded Associated Artists gallery hosting early jams) [1950s]
• George Lewis - Clarinetist whose reputation drew global fans; early star musician (Performed at Preservation Hall; toured with band) [1960s]
• Sweet Emma Barrett - Pianist and early leader; taught traditional style (Sweet Emma and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band album (1964)) [1960s-1970s]

Key Collaborators

• Allan Jaffe - Co-founder, manager, and tuba player (Tours and early albums; led band) [1961-1987]
• Benjamin Jaffe - Current leader, tuba player, son of founders (Ongoing tours and recordings) [1995-present]
• Percy Humphrey - Trumpeter, band leader (Led band in 1970s-1980s tours) [1970s-1980s]
• Willie Humphrey - Clarinetist, co-leader with brother Percy (Led band in 1970s-1980s) [1970s-1980s]
• Kid Thomas Valentine - Trumpeter, early touring member (International tours) [1960s]
• Clint Maedgen - Saxophonist and singer brought into band (Integrated into Preservation Hall Jazz Band) [2000s]

Artists Influenced

• Wendell Brunious - Trumpeter who apprenticed and joined as younger musician (Band member and leader) [1980s-1990s]
• Michael White - Clarinetist integrated via informal apprenticeship (Band performances) [Late 20th century]
• Lars Edegran - Pianist from Sweden who learned the music and joined (Band member) [1970s onward]

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia