Preservation Hall Jazz Band
Coming to Lebanon Opera House

On Thursday, March 27 the legendary Preservation Hall Jazz Band will transform the Lebanon Opera House in a turn-of-the-century French Quarter jazz hall. Reserved seat tickets for the 7:30 p.m. performance may be purchased by calling 603-448-0400.

For almost half a century the Preservation Hall Jazz Band has brought the sounds and spirit of New Orleans Jazz to audiences worldwide. Located in the French Quarter, Preservation Hall is a living monument to the musicians and music of New Orleans who continue to keep these magical sounds alive. Preservation Hall’s jazz ambassadors have regularly toured the world’s most coveted concert halls, belting out the purest expression of one of America’s most loved musical idioms—providing millions with a living history lesson on the roots of jazz.

Originating in the early part of the century, New Orleans jazz is not to be confused with the two-beat Dixieland style. The tempo is a shade slower than the other jazz forms and the melody is always clearly heard with improvisation at its heart. Unobscured by complicated arrangements, its greatness lies in its simplicity.

Emanating from the same roots that spawned greats like Buddy Bolden, Louis Armstrong, King Oliver, Jelly Roll Morton and later Wynton Marsalis and Nicholas Paton, the unmistakable Preservation Hall sound never fails to set feet to tapping and marching up and down the aisles in spirited Mardi Gras style. Preservation Hall’s music remains as vital today as when ageless standards like "Bourbon Street Parade," "Tiger Rag," "Georgia On My Mind" and "Basin Street Blues" were first written.

Jazz traditions enshrined at the famous French quarter landmark have been perpetuated over the years, due in large part to the efforts of the Jaffe family, owners of the Hall since 1961. Young Ben Jaffe carries on his family’s rich tradition, as both manager and bass player of the band. He will be joined on March 27 by a lineup of New Orleans jazz legends, including band leader Wendell Brunious on trumpet, David Grillier on clarinet, drummer Joe Lastie, Frank Demond on trombone, Rickie Monie on piano and banjo player Don Vappie.

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