The Preservation Hall Jazz Band will make a rare visit to Lake Charles at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 13, in F.G. Bulber Auditorium at McNeese State University for a concert co-presented by the McNeese Banners Cultural Series and Louisiana Crossroads.
Tickets are part of a Banners Series membership. Individual tickets are available online at www.banners.org <http://www.banners.org> (click on Preservation Hall) and will be sold at the door. Prices are $20 for adults, $5 for students and free to McNeese students with ID. A basic membership to the Banners Series includes two tickets to all events. Memberships are available by calling the Banners office at (337) 475-5123 or going online.
The Preservation Hall Jazz Band derives its name from Preservation Hall, the venerable music venue located in the heart of New Orleans’ French Quarter. It was founded in 1961 by Allan and Sandra Jaffe and has traveled worldwide spreading its mission of perpetuating the art form of New Orleans jazz.
The band is closely tied to the building, and that building has housed many businesses over the years including a tavern during the War of 1812, a photo studio and an art gallery. And it was the owner of the art gallery, Larry Borenstein, who inadvertently started the Preservation Hall Jazz Band. He began holding informal jam sessions for his close friends, and the rest, as they say, is history.
The intimate venue, whose weathered exterior has been untouched throughout its history, is a living embodiment of its original vision. To this day, Preservation Hall has no drinks, air conditioning or other typical accoutrements of music halls. Band members say the lack of such things enable them to provide one of the last pure music experiences left on the earth.
The band began touring in 1963 and for many years there were several bands touring under the name Preservation Hall. Many of the band's charter members performed with jazz pioneers of the early 20th 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, Wendell and John Brunious. Current members of the band follow in the footsteps of these people.
Ben Jaffee, on tuba, is a son of the hall’s co-founders. After graduating from Oberlin College in Ohio, he came home to play with the group and assume his father’s duties as director of Preservation Hall. Today he serves as creative director for both the band and the hall itself.
Mark Braud, trumpet and vocals, is a nephew of Wendell and John Brunious. Charlie Gabriel, 76, on clarinet, saxophone and vocals, traces his musical heritage as far back as the 1850s. He is the great-grandson of New Orleans bass player Narcesse Gabriel, grandson of New Orleans cornet player Martin Joseph and son of New Orleans drummer and clarinetist Martin Manuel Gabriel.
Other members are Clint Maedgen, reeds and vocals, Joe Lastie Jr., drums, Freddie Lonzo, trombone, and Rickie Monie, piano.
The McNeese Banners Cultural Series brings 22 main events to the community this spring. It also brings some 60 live performances into K-12 schools, outreach which is partially sponsored by CITGO Petroleum Company and the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury.
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The Preservation Hall Jazz Band will make a rare visit to Lake Charles at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 13, in F.G. Bulber Auditorium at McNeese State University for a concert co-presented by the McNeese Banners Cultural Series and Louisiana Crossroads.
Tickets are part of a Banners Series membership. Individual tickets are available online at www.banners.org <http://www.banners.org> (click on Preservation Hall) and will be sold at the door. Prices are $20 for adults, $5 for students and free to McNeese students with ID. A basic membership to the Banners Series includes two tickets to all events. Memberships are available by calling the Banners office at (337) 475-5123 or going online.
The Preservation Hall Jazz Band derives its name from Preservation Hall, the venerable music venue located in the heart of New Orleans’ French Quarter. It was founded in 1961 by Allan and Sandra Jaffe and has traveled worldwide spreading its mission of perpetuating the art form of New Orleans jazz.
The band is closely tied to the building, and that building has housed many businesses over the years including a tavern during the War of 1812, a photo studio and an art gallery. And it was the owner of the art gallery, Larry Borenstein, who inadvertently started the Preservation Hall Jazz Band. He began holding informal jam sessions for his close friends, and the rest, as they say, is history.
The intimate venue, whose weathered exterior has been untouched throughout its history, is a living embodiment of its original vision. To this day, Preservation Hall has no drinks, air conditioning or other typical accoutrements of music halls. Band members say the lack of such things enable them to provide one of the last pure music experiences left on the earth.
The band began touring in 1963 and for many years there were several bands touring under the name Preservation Hall. Many of the band's charter members performed with jazz pioneers of the early 20th 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, Wendell and John Brunious. Current members of the band follow in the footsteps of these people.
Ben Jaffee, on tuba, is a son of the hall’s co-founders. After graduating from Oberlin College in Ohio, he came home to play with the group and assume his father’s duties as director of Preservation Hall. Today he serves as creative director for both the band and the hall itself.
Mark Braud, trumpet and vocals, is a nephew of Wendell and John Brunious. Charlie Gabriel, 76, on clarinet, saxophone and vocals, traces his musical heritage as far back as the 1850s. He is the great-grandson of New Orleans bass player Narcesse Gabriel, grandson of New Orleans cornet player Martin Joseph and son of New Orleans drummer and clarinetist Martin Manuel Gabriel.
Other members are Clint Maedgen, reeds and vocals, Joe Lastie Jr., drums, Freddie Lonzo, trombone, and Rickie Monie, piano.
The McNeese Banners Cultural Series brings 22 main events to the community this spring. It also brings some 60 live performances into K-12 schools, outreach which is partially sponsored by CITGO Petroleum Company and the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury.
