A burst of New Orleans jazz is what A Canadian music lover’s soul could use about now.
On March 15, the legendary Preservation Hall Jazz Band will breeze into Guelph, bringing its upbeat and larger-than-life touring show to River Run Centre with a mix of standards and original pieces.
The show begins at 7pm.
Allan and Sandra Jaffe founded the Preservation Hall (and planted the seeds for its namesake band, which would come two years later) in 1961 as a means of perpetuating traditional New Orleans jazz. Legendary players like George Lewis, Sweet Emma Barrett and Kid Thomas Valentine were among its original stars.
Despite New Orleans jazz coming in and out of vogue over the years – the Preservation Hall remained stalwart, hosting nightly concerts that kept the music alive, and helping to foster its continued progression.
In its nearly 50 year history, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band has featured dozens of the finest jazz musicians Louisiana has to offer, and released over 30 albums.
In its current incarnation the band includes tuba and bass player Ben Jaffe, the son of Preservation Hall founders, who also acts as musical director.
He is joined by Mark Braud (trumpet, band leader, vocalist), Charlie Gabriel (clarinet, vocals – and an octogenarian who still “brings it” to every performance), Ronnell Johnson (tuba, vocals), Joe Lastie Jr. (drums), Clint Maedgen (saxophone, vocals), and Rickie Monie (piano).
In recent years the band – and New Orleans jazz in general – have enjoyed renewed admiration.
After Hurricane Katrina, there was a significant uptick in attention for the region and its culture. Interest swelled once again in the, unique sounds by the legendary city that gave the world the likes of Jelly Roll Morton, the Marsalis family and Louis Armstrong.
In 2006, President George W. Bush presented the band with the National Medal of Arts. That resulted in musicians collaborating with the band, including Bonnie Raitt, Steve Earl, the Black Keys, the Foo Fighters and Arcade Fire.
“My parents were never preservationists in any strict sense,” Ben Jaffe said. “They simply presented the music the way the old jazz men wanted to play it. This is the music we want to play today.”
Tickets start at $44 for adults and $42 for students and seniors. $5 eyeGO tickets are available for high school students with valid ID. The $20 uGO tickets are available to university and college students with valid ID.
Tickets are available at the River Run box office at 519-763-3000, or online at riverrun.ca/preservation-hall-jazz-band.
