Upcoming: Preservation Hall Jazz Band @ Apollo Theater

NPR First Listen: Preservation Hall Jazz Band, 'That's It!'

There's a magnificent design to the 's new album. The 11 songs hang together so well that, like the most flattering gowns, they seem to be cut on the bias.

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Out July 9, That's It! features entirely original material — a first in Preservation Hall's 50-year tradition. Like previous recordings, the music conjures the band's intimate performance space, just a can-kick away from the crush of Bourbon Street. That's where jazz masters in black trousers, crisp white shirts and sensible shoes welcome fans nightly to sit at their feet. But this time around, sitting is not an option. The musicians are presenting their songs, and they're playing hotter, harder and more smartly than ever.
From Joseph Lastie Junior's opening drum beat, the ensemble pushes music lovers to dance. Just listen to the horns in the title track — especially Mark Braud on trumpet and Ben Jaffe on tuba. That sound and those rhythms are what Jelly Roll Morton was talking about when he described the "Latin tinge" in New Orleans music.

There's a mid-20th-century feel to songs like "Come With Me," "Sugar Plum" and "Yellow Moon" which calls to mind a particular vintage of cool. It conjures images of Sidney Poitier on the dance floor — refined, sexy and all grown up.

Each song has its own fun. "August Nights" bespeaks a continental moodiness worthy of Jacques Brel smoking in the rain, while "Rattlin' Bones" is a spooky treat, set to hilarious effect in a graveyard. Braud's trumpet is, again, perfect. But trombonist Freddie Lonzo is on vocals and he steals the show; he's half Boris Karloff, half .

In fact, all the vocalists here are top-drawer, including Clint Maedgen (sax) and a shouting Ronell Johnson (tuba). Charlie Gabriel (clarinet) deserves particular mention for his affectionate tone, which gives the recording its emotional heft and recalls the original, legendary performers at Preservation Hall.
At its heart, That's It! is a memory trick, managing to sound both familiar and fresh. But this is more than a live performance by a hot band. Producers Ben Jaffe and Jim James of have created a unique sound, to the point where it may not be possible to replicate it.

Any idea what makes a piano solo like "Emmalena's Lullaby" so haunting? Jaffe and his clever engineers miked the original studio performance at Preservation Hall and had it pressed onto vinyl in Memphis. Then they recorded the vinyl as it played in a 1950s dance hall outside the French Quarter. Not until the end of the process did anyone hear the sound they were hoping to achieve. And when they did, somebody had to say it: "That's it!"

Upcoming: Preservation Hall Jazz Band @ City Winery

Preservation Hall Jazz Band - 2/28

Thursday, February 28 2013 6:00pm Doors / 8:00pm Start 

Tickets VIP $45.00 Premier $45.00 Reserved $40.00 Bar Stool $35.00 buy tickets

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 Borenstein, 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, famed pianist Sweet Emma Barrett, and in the modern day Wendall and John Brunious. 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 the current lineup.

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Watch: Preservation Hall Jazz Band on Austin City Limits (after Steve Miller)

Watch The Steve Miller Band / Preservation Hall Jazz Band on PBS. See more from Austin City Limits.

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Listen Live: Preservation Hall Jazz Band @ City Winery

FROM NEW ORLEANS...

...to New York City, it's an FUV Live broadcast with Preservation Hall Jazz Band from the stage of City Winery! Listen live, tonight at 8pm.

In Pictures: Preservation Hall Jazz Band @ City Winery & Houndstooth Pub

By Dino Perrucci Photography

Preservation Hall Jazz Band - City Winery, NYC 11/3/10



Preservation Hall Jazz Band - City Winery, NYC 11/3/10


Preservation Hall Jazz Band - City Winery, NYC 11/3/10


Mark Braud - Houndstooth Pub, NYC 11/3/10


Danny Clinch & Ben Jaffe - Houndstooth Pub, NYC 11/3/10

Download: "Nobody Knows Nothin'" (Proceeds Benefit GulfAid​.​org)

Featuring the Preservation Hall Jazz Band with Clint Maedgen and Threadhead Records artists John Boutté, Paul Sanchez, Susan Cowsill, Craig Klein, and Margie Perez

Written by: John Boutté, Bill Lynn and Paul Sanchez
Produced by: Ben Jaffe, Bill Lynn and Paul Sanchez


New Orleans, LA (July 8, 2010) – Coming off their successful collaboration with Mos Def and Lenny Kravitz that resulted in the popular Ain’t My Fault recording and video benefiting Gulf Aid, (gulfaid.org), Ben Jaffe, leader of the world famous Preservation Hall Jazz Band, and Bill Lynn, professional fundraiser and master auctioneer, have teamed with singer/songwriters John Boutté and Paul Sanchez to write and produce another fundraising project through Threadhead Records called Nobody Knows Nothin’, also benefiting the organization Gulf Aid (gulfaid.org).

Along with a plethora of New Orleans talent including the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Susan Cowsill, Craig Klein (Bonerama/New Orleans Nightcrawlers), Margie Perez (Ensemble Fatien), Gregory Menoher, and Mark McGrain, Jaffe, Lynn, Boutté and Sanchez gathered at the iconic Preservation Hall to record this musical response to the Gulf oil disaster. With Boutté (who is currently enjoying success from his wildly popular theme song from HBO’s Treme) handling the lead vocals, the song puts to music the frustration and despair surrounding the worst ecological disaster the country has known.

Says Bill Lynn, co-writer and co-producer of this effort:

"John, Paul, and I, all good neighborhood buddies, we’re hanging out watchin’ the news and “disaster talking” which we have all unfortunately mastered over the last almost 5 years. We know from experience that this talk leaves one angry, depressed, frozen, and confused and with an unhealthy dose of despair. It’s a peculiar thing, disaster talking. Once started, it almost takes on a hurricane like energy of its’ own. The conversation whirls about as everyone gushes and oozes out their emotions spinning wild projections of anger and the fear of the unknown. The three of us (and thousands of others) have all recently been there and done that almost (and in some cases) to death. Fortunately this time around we transferred this weird energy into a couple of I phone recording sessions. We played them for another good neighbor, Ben Jaffe. When asked if we could record this at Preservation Hall he immediately responded, “Only if I could play tuba!” Armed with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band and the sweet harmonies of the Rolling Threadhead Review, this is the result of our collective thoughts."

"To claim I am void of anger would be a bald face lie. However, this time around we have skipped the depressed, hopeless, frozen and confused part and have substituted it with the rock solid spirit and love that brought us back from the brink of Katrina’s almost total devastation. While there may be a whole bunch of people that proclaim or really don’t know nothing, without a doubt we do know our ability to not only survive but to thrive as well comes directly from the heart of the peo ple who love this place so very, very much."

To purchase the digital download of the song, and to help with the oil cleanup efforts, go to threadheadrecords.bandcamp.com. The song will also be available soon on iTunes.

About Gulf Aid: Gulf Aid (gulfaid.org) is a 501(c3) nonprofit corporation established in response to the biggest oil spill in US history just 50 miles off of the Louisiana Coast.

About Threadhead Records: Formed in 2007, Threadhead Records (THR) is an unprecedented fan-funded and volunteer-run record company formed out of the love for New Orleans and its music, and its musicians. Our mission is to help New Orleans musicians affected by the flooding that occurred in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, many of whom are still rebuilding today, and to expose the world to the amazing music that is being created in New Orleans.

Websites:
www.preservationhall.com/band
www.johnboutte.com
www.paulsanchez.com
www.margieperez.com
www.susancowsill.com
www.threadheadrecords.com
www.gulfaid.org

In Pictures: Steve Earle & Preservation Hall Jazz Band @ City Winery

By Dino Perrucci Photography

Preservation Hall Jazz Band w/Steve Earle - City Winery, NYC 7/29/10





Preservation Hall Jazz Band - City Winery, NYC 7/29/10


Preservation Hall Jazz Band w/Steve Earle - City Winery, NYC 7/29/10


Preservation Hall Jazz Band w/Steve Earle - City Winery, NYC 7/29/10

In Pictures: Preservation Hall Jazz Band, My Morning Jacket and Terence Blanchard @ Jazzfest Fairgrounds

By Dino Perrucci Photography

Preservation Hall Jazz Band - New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival 4/25/10




Preservation Hall Jazz Band - New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival 4/25/10


Preservation Hall Jazz Band w/Terence Blanchard - New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival 4/25/10


Preservation Hall Jazz Band w/Jim James - New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival 4/25/10

In Pictures: Preservation Hall Jazz Band, My Morning Jacket and Amy Lavelle @ Preservation Hall - 4/24/10

(ed. note: I was front row for this, but only took iPhone photos. Incredible show.)

photos by Mark C. Austin

In Pictures: Preservation Hall Jazz Band @ Morristown Community Theater

Dino Perrucci Photography



Preservation Hall Jazz Band - Morristown Community Theater, NJ 1/29/10



Preservation Hall Jazz Band - Morristown Community Theater, NJ 1/29/10


Preservation Hall Jazz Band - Morristown Community Theater, NJ 1/29/10

In Pictures: Preservation Hall Jazz Band @ BB King's

Dino Perrucci Photography



Preservation Hall Jazz Band - BB King's, NYC 1/9/10



Preservation Hall Jazz Band and The Del McCoury Band - BB King's, NYC 1/9/10


Preservation Hall Jazz Band and The Del McCoury Band - BB King's, NYC 1/9/10

In Pictures: Preservation Hall Jazz Band @ Tarrytown Music Hall

Dino Perrucci Photography



Preservation Hall Jazz Band - Tarrytown Music Hall, NY 1/7/10



Preservation Hall Jazz Band - Tarrytown Music Hall, NY 1/7/10


Preservation Hall Jazz Band - Tarrytown Music Hall, NY 1/7/10


Preservation Hall Jazz Band - Tarrytown Music Hall, NY 1/7/10