Preservation Hall Jazz Band

It’s been almost 15 years since Hurricane Katrina ravaged New Orleans, and Crescent City culture has slowly regained its footing. Fortunately, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band has been a rock upon which New Orleans is building itself anew. Even as the floodwaters retreated, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band persevered in its mission, touring around the nation, sharing the raucous, soulful sound of traditional New Orleans jazz. Founded in the early 1960s by tuba player Allan Jaffe, the PHJB instantly attracted players linked to the glory days of the 1920s. Now run by Jaffe’s son, tuba player Ben Jaffe, the group features a multigenerational wealth of New Orleans talent, including veteran saxophonist Charlie Gabriel, versatile singer and instrumentalist Clint Maedgen, and trombonist Ronell Johnson, who joined the band in 2012. Under the younger Jaffe’s direction, the band has remained timelessly relevant, recording and sharing the stage with the likes of Allen Toussaint, the Foo Fighters, Tom Waits, Yasiin Bey (Mos Def), Dr. John, My Morning Jacket, Beck, and others.