The Center for the Arts at George Mason University welcomes Preservation Hall Jazz Band for a concert this November, as part of their Pass It On: 60th Anniversary Musical Celebration tour. This legendary ensemble was formed in 1961 by Allan Jaffe and began performing in the French Quarter of New Orleans.
Allan and his wife Sandra bought the building in 1961 and aptly named it Preservation Hall. The Jaffes operated this integrated venue that was dedicated to local jazz musicians that formed the Preservation Hall Jazz Band. Over the past 60 years, the band has worked to preserve the unique sound of New Orleans jazz. Most recently the band toured with singer Josh Groban, and has shared the stage with musicians such as Stevie Wonder, Elvis Costello, The Grateful Dead, and countless others.
Today, the band is led by Ben Jaffe, son of Allan Jaffe. Their most recent studio album, A Tuba to Cuba, also acted as a soundtrack to their documentary of the same name. The film was lauded as “Joyous, intimate and fascinating!” by The New York Times. In 2015, the band visited Cuba for the first time to explore the roots and crossover between New Orleans jazz and Cuban music.
In 2006, the band was awarded the National Medal of Arts, and they received the 44th NAACP Image Award. Rolling Stone magazine hailed them as “the past and promise of American music.” A more detailed history of the ensemble and hall can be found on the Music Inside Out website.
Preservation Hall Jazz Band will perform at the Center for the Arts on Sunday, November 6, 2022 at 7 p.m. There will be a pre-performance discussion 45 minutes before the show.
Tickets will be available on Aug. 1. At that time, current subscribers can add the show with their additional 15% discount by calling 703-993-2787 or visiting the Ticket Office.
Learn more about the 2022/2023 Great Performances at Mason season on the Center for the Arts' website.
Watch Preservation Hall Jazz Band perform "Santiago," recorded live for World Café.