PRESERVATION HALL

Biography

Preservation Hall is an iconic music venue and collective located in the heart of New Orleans' French Quarter, founded in 1961 by Allan and Sandra Jaffe. Its origins trace back to the 1950s, when Larry Borenstein, proprietor of an art gallery at 726 St. Peter Street, began hosting informal jazz sessions featuring legendary local musicians such as George Lewis, Sweet Emma Barrett, Billie and De De Pierce, and the Humphrey Brothers. The Jaffes, inspired by the purity and tradition of the music, moved to New Orleans and took over the nightly operations, transforming the gallery into Preservation Hall—a rare integrated space during the Jim Crow era, dedicated to preserving the city's unique jazz heritage.

Preservation Hall quickly became the epicenter for traditional New Orleans jazz, hosting nightly concerts with master practitioners and drawing national attention. In 1963, the Jaffes established the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, which began touring internationally to promote and sustain the legacy of New Orleans jazz. Many founding members of the band had direct ties to early jazz pioneers, including Buddy Bolden, Jelly Roll Morton, and Louis Armstrong. Over the decades, the Hall and its band have remained committed to nurturing and perpetuating the art form, operating under the leadership of the Jaffes' son, Ben Jaffe, since Allan's passing in 1987.

Musically, Preservation Hall is renowned for its dedication to acoustic, traditional jazz, drawing from a rich blend of African, Caribbean, and European influences that shaped New Orleans music at the turn of the 20th century. The Hall has served as a living museum and a vibrant performance space, supporting generations of musicians and fostering collaborations across genres. Its legacy is both local and global, as it continues to inspire new audiences and artists while remaining a steadfast guardian of jazz tradition.

Fun Facts

• Preservation Hall was one of the few racially integrated music venues in the South during the Jim Crow era, making it a significant site for civil rights as well as music.
• The Hall has no drinks, air conditioning, or typical venue amenities—its focus is solely on the music experience.
• The Preservation Hall Jazz Band once performed for the King of Thailand, who joined them on alto saxophone.
• Allan Jaffe, the founder, would sometimes play sousaphone with the band during performances.

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Buddy Bolden - Early jazz pioneer; many charter members of Preservation Hall performed with him or were contemporaries (Traditional jazz sessions) [Early 20th century]
• Jelly Roll Morton - Influential composer and pianist; Preservation Hall musicians were inspired by his work and some performed with him (Traditional jazz standards) [Early 20th century]
• Louis Armstrong - Jazz legend; founding members of Preservation Hall played with Armstrong or were influenced by his style (Jazz standards and performances) [1920s-1960s]

Key Collaborators

• Sweet Emma Barrett - Founding pianist and bandleader at Preservation Hall (Preservation Hall Jazz Band performances) [1960s]
• Billie and De De Pierce - Husband and wife team, key early bandleaders (Preservation Hall Jazz Band recordings and tours) [1960s-1970s]
• Willie and Percy Humphrey - Brothers and bandleaders, central to the Hall's early ensembles (Preservation Hall Jazz Band) [1960s-1980s]
• Modern collaborators (Tom Waits, Dr. John, Arcade Fire, The Black Keys, Foo Fighters) - Cross-genre collaborations in recent decades (Albums and live performances) [2000s-present]

Artists Influenced

• Ben Jaffe - Son of founders; current director and bassist, continues the tradition and mentors new generations (Preservation Hall Jazz Band leadership and recordings) [1990s-present]
• John Brunious - Trumpeter and bandleader, learned from founding members (Preservation Hall Jazz Band) [1980s-2000s]
• SFJAZZ Collective - Inspired by PHJB's model of collaborative jazz ensembles (SFJAZZ Collective performances) [2000s-present]

Discography

Albums

Top Tracks

1. That's It! (That's It!)
2. Between The Devil & The Deep Blue Sea (An Album To Benefit Preservation Hall & The Preservation Hall Music Outreach Program)
3. Choko Mo Feel No Hey (New Orleans Preservation, Vol. 1)
4. Summertime (Songs of New Orleans)
5. Having A Party - Live (Live At Red Rocks)
6. Tootie Ma Is A Big Fine Thing (50th Anniversary Collection)
7. Short Dressed Gal (New Orleans Preservation, Vol. 1)
8. Bill Bailey Won't You Please Come Home (For Fat Man)
9. Kreyol (A Tuba to Cuba)
10. Basin Street Blues (Songs of New Orleans)

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia