With a mission to "perpetuate and nurture" New Orleans jazz as an art form, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band travels the world doing just that. From Carnegie Hall to Lincoln Center, for British Royalty and the king of Thailand, this eclectic assortment of musicians has been spreading the jazz gospel.
Formed in Preservation Hall, the famous New Orleans venue at the heart of the French Quarter, the ensemble was founded in 1961 by Allan and Sandra Jaffe, and is under the current direction of their son, Ben Jaffe. Many jazz legends have performed with its current and past members, including Buddy Bolden, Jelly Roll Morton, Louis Armstrong and Bunk Johnson.
The secret to Preservation Hall's great success and longevity is probably its attention to preservation — it's all about passing the music on to younger generations. Thus, as seen in the current lineup and in this special holiday session from World Cafe, New Orleans jazz lives on brighter and heartier than ever.
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