Preservation Hall Jazz Band
see also "Preservation Hall"
The Preservation Hall Jazz Band is defined by its home venue and its musical style rather than by its membership. The "band," which has been playing and touring for over 30 years as of this writing, is composed of the best of the musicians that play at Preservation Hall in the French Quarter of New Orleans. Using the singular for the band is a misnomer; there are presently six different bands that play on different nights at Preservation hall:
- Mondays -- Reginald Koeller and The Preservation Hall Jazz Band
- Tuesdays -- Gregg Stafford and The Preservation Hall Jazz Band
- Wednesdays -- John Brunious and The Preservation Hall Jazz Band
- Thursdays -- Dave Bartholomew and The Preservation Hall Jazz Band
- Fridays -- Leroy Jones and The Preservation Hall Jazz Band
- Saturdays -- John Brunious and The Preservation Hall Jazz Band
Each band has different members, and guest musicians will occasionally sit in. The band's tours have taken it around the country and around the world, and it has played in such prestigious locations as New York's Carnegie Hall. In one incarnation or another, the band has recorded nine albums:
- Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Vol. I (1977)
- Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Vol. II (1982)
- Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Vol. 111(1983)
- Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Vol. IV (1988)
- The Best of Preservation Hall Jazz Band (1989)
- Preservation Hall Jazz Band Live (1993)
- In The Sweet Bye and Bye (1996)
- Because of You (1998)
- Songs of New Orleans Volumes I & II (1999)
There are rumors -- and some discontent among younger musicians -- that the members of the bands are based on a preference for, first, older black musicians, then older white musicians, younger black musicians, and finally younger white musicians. Whether the selection process is based on the caliber or the age and ethnicity of the musician, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band is well worth hearing. It is a wonderful music and a taste of old New Orleans.
Sources:
http://www.preservationhall.com/
http://www.sonyclassical.com/artists/preservation/bio.html
http://entertainment.msn.com/Artist/?artist=125217