Made In New Orleans: A Preservation Hall Blog

Preservation Hall Midnight Preserves schedule announced!

2008-03-11T08:59:00.000-07:00

Preservation Hall is proud to present Midnight Preserves, an intimate concert series during the 2008 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. The concert series kicks off the first weekend on Thursday, April 24th with a performance by the “Creole Beethoven”, Wardell Quezergue and his New Orleans R&B Revue. The Preservation Hall Jazz Band with very special guests headline the early show on Friday, April 25th followed by a late show with the Dirty Dozen Brass Band for their first time appearing at Preservation Hall harkening back to the early days at the legendary Uptown New Orleans venue--The Glass House. On Saturday, April 26th, George Wein, festival impresario and one of the founders of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and Newport Jazz & Folk Festivals, will perform on Piano and Vocals with The Preservation Hall All-Stars featuring Ben Jaffe on bass and tuba for the early show. Critically acclaimed Duo, Benevento-Russo play a rare acoustic set for Saturday night’s late show.

The second week showcases an array of New Orleans music beginning with an early show on Wednesday, April 30 with Greyboy Allstars keyboardist Robert Walter joined by one of the Crescent City’s greatest rhythm sections Johnny Vidacovich on drums and James Singleton on bass with Special Guest Donald Harrison on sax. Thursday, May 1st with the all-star combo of Tab Benoit, Johnny Sansone and Big Chief Monk Boudreaux, followed by a very special late night session of aural beats with DJ, King Britt presenting a multi-media performance. On Friday, May 2nd, Grammy Award and multiple W.C. Handy award-winner, John Hammond performs a solo acoustic performance, followed by a late show with the funky Rebirth Brass Band. Saturday, May 3rd kicks off with a tribute to New Orleans drumming legend Smokey Johnson by The Shannon Powell Group, followed by a cutting edge late show with multi-talented artist, DJ, producer, Kid Koala who will be joined by members of the Preservation Hall Jazz Band. The Stanton Moore Trio follows with a late-late show at 2:00 am. On Sunday, May 4th Preservation Hall Recordings will hosts a record release party celebrating the completion of Joe Lastie Jr. and the Lastie Family Gospel new recording as well as Carl Leblanc “7th Ward Griot” recording. Closing out the 2008 Midnight Preserves on Sunday with a late night of carnival revelry is The New Orleans Bingo! Show. Additional shows will be added with music clinics scheduled during the week between festival weekends.
Midnight Preserves tickets go on-sale on Thursday March 7, 2008 at 9:00 am (cst) and can be purchased at http://preservationhall.baselineticketing.com or at Preservation Hall by calling 522-2841. Shows are 18+ and non-smoking. Tickets are general admission with the exception of April 26th concert with George Wein and The Preservation Hall All-stars that will have a limited amount of seated tickets available. Preservation Hall is located at 726 St. Peter Street. For more information, visit www.preservationhall.com.

Second Line Parade for Mr. John

2008-02-27T09:51:00.000-08:00

Last Saturday, we celebrated the life of Mr. Brunious with a second line parade. The band was led by Wendell Brunious, and included an all-star New Orleans lineup including
Gregg Stafford, Ernest 'Doc' Watson, Mark Braud, Leroy Jones, Kermit Ruffins, Fred Lonzo, Joe Lastie, Shannon Powell, William Smith, Corey Henry, Taneo Hingle, Rob Espino, Kerry 'Fatman' Hunter, Kenneth Terry, Michael Pierce, Katja Toivola, Ben Jaffe, Uncle Lionel, Burnell Brunious, Robert Harris,Aaron Lambert, Benny Jones, Elliot 'Stackman' Callier, Darryl Adams, and many more. Here are some photos by Erika Goldring.

JOHN BRUNIOUS: HONORING A LEGEND

2008-02-25T13:17:00.000-08:00

JOHN BRUNIOUS:
October 12, 1940 – February 12, 2008

HONORING A LEGEND

It is with great sorrow and heavy hearts that Preservation Hall announces the passing of one of our cherished band members, trumpeter, Mr. John Brunious. An accomplished musician both on trumpet and piano, John Brunious served as the bandleader for The Preservation Hall Jazz Band. Growing up in a family of gifted musicians, Mr. Brunious was introduced to New Orleans Jazz at a young age, by his father, John “Picky” Brunious and others such as drumming legend Paul Barbarin. He began taking lessons from his father at age ten but mostly taught himself to play by listening to records and emulating what he heard; inspired by Dizzy Gillespie and Maynard Ferguson, he developed a flair for flashy, high-note solos that earned him work at gigs and on record sessions in a variety of styles.

Dedicating his life to music, Mr. Brunious had a flourishing career, spanning decades, multiple continents and some of the most prestigious venues in the world, including Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center. His talent took him far and wide, landing him into the halls of royalty and world leaders. Performing for British Royalty, The King of Thailand, U.S. presidents and everyone in between, he loved to share his passion for music.

A pioneering member of the PHJB, John Brunious was with the band for over 20 years as bandleader. He was an inspiration to his fellow band members as well as his fans. As Mr. Brunious carried on the grand tradition and musical culture of his forebears in the Crescent City, The Preservation Hall Jazz Band will celebrate him in continuing this incredible American art form for years to come. Creative Director of Preservation Hall, Ben Jaffe remarks, “John Brunious was living history. One of the last things John told me was, ‘There’s another Louis Armstrong somewhere out there in New Orleans. I’m going to find them and teach them all I got.’ It’s now in our hands to carry on his message and legacy the way he carried the torch for so many years.”

Mr. Brunious passed away in Casselbury, Florida with his family. He is survived by his wife Terri Brunious, a son John, Jr., 2- stepdaughters, a granddaughter, 3-brothers, and 4-sisters.

Please take the time to visit our John Brunious tribute page:

CLICKHERE

PHJB performs National Anthem at BCS Championship

2008-01-08T11:20:00.000-08:00

The Preservation Hall Jazz Band featuring guest vocalist Clint Maedgen was honored to perform the national anthem at last night's BCS championship football. See video below. Congratulations Tigers!

What's in your box?

2007-12-17T15:24:00.000-08:00

So what do you have in your MADE IN NEW ORLEANS:The Hurricane Sessions collection? Please feel free to ask questions or make comments about any of the collectibles in your set. You can do so by clicking 'COMMENTS' below this post. Or, email me personally at ron@preservationhall.com. Periodically, we'll have a featured item along with bios & stories. Let's get the dialogue started!

Kid Thomas Band with Duke Ellington on YouTube!

2007-12-17T14:22:00.000-08:00

Hello Friends,

Howard found this new video on YouTube featuring the Kid Thomas Band with Duke Ellington. Enjoy!

Made In New Orleans contents question

2007-12-17T12:48:00.001-08:00

M.B. asked:
"...have received the Made in New Orleans 504 limited edition box set which contains a photograph of a musician holding a clarinet and standing in a garden,he is wearing a spotted shirt, there is no identification as to who this musician is.Could this be a photograph of George Lewis? Would appreciate your advice on the correct identification of this musician."

M.B.,

The musician in your photograph is indeed George Lewis. Does your photo have a Preservation Hall embossed seal on it? If so, your photograph is a cutout from the album cover of "Jazz at Preservation Hall: The George Lewis Band of New Orleans".

Here's some links about George Lewis:

George Lewis on Wikipedia

George Lewis on redhotjazz.com

George Lewis on jazzbymail.com

Recommended reading:
Song for My Fathers: A New Orleans Story in Black and White by Tom Sancton

Times Picayune article: Made In New Orleans

2007-09-17T14:54:00.000-07:00

Check out the feature on MADE IN NEW ORLEANS:THE HURRICANE SESSIONS in the Lagniappe section of the Times Picayune:

PIECES OF HISTORY by Keith Spera

Made in New Orleans DVD

2007-09-11T10:01:00.000-07:00

We received the following question last week regarding the Made In New Orleans:The Hurricane Sessions DVD:

"I have bought the 'Made in New Orleans' CD and DVD. I am disappointed that
there is absolutely no information with the DVD. I should be very grateful if
you could tell me who are the musicians at the Newport Jazz Festival and those
that accompany George Lewis on 'Redwing'." -Philip S.

The Preservation Hall Jazz Band musicians performing at the Newport Jazz Festival(year unknown) are Dede Pierce(trumpet,vocals), Billie Pierce(piano), Willie Humphrey(clarinet), "Big Jim" Robinson(trombone), Captain John Handy(saxophone),Allan Jaffe(tuba), and Josiah "Cie" Frazier(drums). They are performing the song "I Want A Little Girl".

On the Preservation Hall performance of "Redwing", George Lewis is accompanied by Avery "Kid" Howard(trumpet), "Big Jim" Robinson(trombone), Alcide "Slow Drag" Pavageau(bass), Dolly Adams(piano), and Joe Watkins(drums).

The DVD also includes:
-Preservation Hall Jazz Band music video "Complicated Life"
-The first appearance of Preservation Hall on the Brinkley News Hour in 1961
-A German TV newsreel featuring Preservation Hall

Thanks for your question Philip!

M.I.N.O. ITunes Digital Download Bonus Offer

2007-09-10T09:41:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to let y'all know that if you decide to download Made In New Orleans: The Hurricane Sessions via Itunes, the PresHall website or other digital retailers, we'll send you a few trinkets from the Deluxe Version Box set. All you have to do is email your receipt and address to minobonus@preservationhall.com and it'll be out to you in four to six weeks.

Preservation Hall Jazz Band on Saturday Night Live.

2007-08-29T13:05:00.000-07:00

The Preservation Hall Jazz Band was the featured musical artist on a 1976 episode of Saturday Night Live. The band features Percy Humphrey(trumpet),Willie Humprey(clarinet), Frank Demond(trombone), Narvin Kimball(banjo), Sing Miller(piano), Allan Jaffe(tuba), and Cie Frazier(drums). Check it out on our website by clicking HERE

M.I.N.O. Feature: "Creole" George Guesnon

2007-08-14T11:28:00.001-07:00

During the ‘randomized’ hand assembly of the Made In New Orleans box collections, it was difficult to not put this amiable photograph of banjoist/guitarist George Guesnon in every box. One of New Orleans’ best known banjo players, “Creole” George was a scrapbooker and photo collector in his own right, and often made handwritten captions on the face of the photographs with sometimes ‘opinionated’ comments on the portrayed. Here’s some info on Guesnon:

“CREOLE” GEORGE GUESNON(pronounced gay-no)
(BANJO, GUITAR)
b. May 25, 1907
d. May 5, 1968
Played with: Sam Morgan, Oscar “Papa” Celestin, Kid Rena, Chris Kelly, Buddy Petit, Punch Miller, George Lewis…

Creole George Guesnon began playing professionally in 1927, when he joined Kid Clayton’s Happy Pals at the Hummingbird cabaret. George had a few lessons from John Marrero, but for the most part perfected his own amazing technique on guitar and banjo. He recorded several blues records for Decca during the thirties, when he was seeking his fortune in New York and sharing an apartment with Jelly Roll Morton, who arranged some of his compositions.
In 1935 he went to Jackson, Mississippi, where he joined Little Brother Montgomery’s orchestra and a year later the Rabbit Foot Minstrels. For two years he was featured as a banjo soloist and during this time he extemporized endless lyrics which he sang to his own standard blues accompaniment. In 1940 he recorded again for Decca.
When World War II came, he joined the Merchant Marine and afterwards returned to New Orleans to play jobs with a variety of bands. He traveled with George Lewis to California and also to New York where they recorded for Blue Note. In 1959 George recorded for Icon and afterwards appeared on many traditional New Orleans jazz releases, including the Riverside “Living Legends” series and the Atlantic “jazz at Preservation Hall” series.
Until his retirement in 1965, George appeared at Preservation Hall as leader of his own group or as sideman with other groups.

from “Preservation Hall Portraits” By Noel Rockmore; text by Larry Borenstein & Bill Russell

more reading on George Guesnon:
“Song for My Fathers: A New Orleans Story in Black and White” by Tom Sancton
“Preservation Hall” by William Carter
“New Orleans Style” by Bill Russell
“The Jazz Crusade:The Inside Story of the Great New Orleans Jazz Revival of the 1960s” by Big Bill Bissonnette

on the web:
jazzbanjo.com:George Guesnon

Preservation Hall on YouTube

2007-08-09T15:34:00.001-07:00

Next time you're on YouTube, search for 'Preservation Hall'. Just make sure you got some time on your hands, there's a whole lot to watch. Here's one featuring the Kid Thomas Band. For some reason they have Emanuel Paul listed as Charlie Hamilton. Anyhow, enjoy!

"New Orleans Ain't the Same without Walter Payton"

2007-08-01T14:07:00.000-07:00

Here's an article we stumbled into on our much loved bass player, Walter Payton.

"New Orleans Ain't the Same Without Walter Payton" by Larry Benicewicz

Jacques Gauthe Remembered

2007-06-11T12:23:00.000-07:00

Photo by Shannon Brinkman

Clarinetist Jacques Gauthe passed away while on tour in France. I was told it was of natural causes. I received the call early this morning in Newcastle while on tour with the PHJB in Great Britain. The news came from our dear English friend clarinetest and New Orleans Jazz Enthusiast Brian Carrick.

I grew up knowing Jacques. He moved to New Orleans from France to play music and cook in the best kitchens in the city. He was head chef at the Plimsol Club and later at Galatoire’s Restaurant where he regularly cooked for my dad Allan. Jacques and my dad had a special bond. My father lived to eat and Jacques loved to cook for him. I remember one evening at Preservation Hall the two of them sitting in the courtyard eating a pate Jacques had made. There were crumbs from the French bread they were sharing everywhere. On these frequent occasions, my dad would pull out a vintage bottle of wine from his private stash and he and Jacques would drink and eat with the most incredible enthusiasm.

Jacques’ sound on the clarinet was like him, full of energy and robust. He played with such excitement, I always got the sense that he was always on the verge of bursting into great laughter. On one trip with the PHJB to Omaha, NB, we had a day off. The band was invited to spend the afternoon at a friends house. Jacques and I agreed I would purchase and prep the food and he would cook. It so happened that it was the first day of the asparagus season!! I bought a case of asparagus and dozens of steaks. Jacques and I got to work. He was at home and at great ease in the kitchen. He handled his knife and pans the way an artists mixes paints, with complete confidence. The recipes he showed me that day I use regularly. He created five completely different asparagus dishes and it was, barring the last time he cooked for our family at Galatoire’s, the best steak I’ve ever had.

He suffered and moarned greatly over the loss of his prized home in New Orleans from the flood waters following Katrina. He was an avid stamp collector. His extensive collection was destroyed as well as his instruments and music.

One of the last conversations Jacques and I had was about making salami. Once a year, Jacques would grind his own meat and hang it on a rope he would hang from the front door, down the hallway to his back door. He told me he had to put newspaper down to soak up the oil from the drying meat. He said it was a lengthy and messy endeavour with delicious results. I asked how long it takes. With his typical shrug of the shoulder he replied with his heavy French accent, “When it’s ready. Until then, salami is my wife’s enemy!!!” We burst out laughing.

The Story Behind Made in New Orleans

2007-06-07T15:05:00.001-07:00

Welcome to our new home page and the MINO (Made in New Orleans) Blog. Below is a window into the inspiration for our upcoming July 24th release called Made in New Orleans. This project was a labor of passion, love, family, and a
celebration of the Crescent City...

Made In New Orleans began years ago. There are so many little things that make New Orleans magical and I wanted to share them with the world. We began recording tracks for this project in 2004. We went so far as to make a video of one of the songs in May of 2005. Little did we know or expect our lives would forever change on August 29th that same year. Band members were and continue to be scattered across the United States from Orlando to Los Angeles. Mind you, we all grew up within a couple two three miles or so of one another. Most of us have never lived anywhere else. Fortunately, all of the members of the band and their immediate family made it safely out of the city. We did mourn the loss of members of our extended musical family, in particular drummer and vocalist John Robichaux who remained in New Orleans with his wife in their family home in the Lower 9th Ward. Their home was overwhelmed by the flood waters. They were unable to make it to higher ground.

We did not complete all of the tracks when New Orleans flooded in 2005. We were not sure if the master tapes survived the rising waters. It wasn’t important to me, since I knew we could always recreate the songs again differently. As our lives began to take new shapes, so did this project. Made In New Orleans suddenly meant something entirely different to all of us. So many things we cherish were gone. We were not only stripped of our homes, but also in jeopardy of losing our precious way of life. I knew it was important to make a project that reflected our New Orleans, our lives, our experiences. Made In New Orleans opens with tracks by Billie and DeDe Pierce. Billie and DeDe were husband and wife and leaders of the first Preservation Hall Band. From there, the record journeys back and forth through the decades–the way New Orleans does. One minute you are driving on the highway, the next you are sitting in a 300 year old slate courtyard surrounded by jasmine vines and banana trees in the French Quarter. A track that has particular importance to me is “Over In The Gloryland”. The song was originally produced by my father, Allan Jaffe, and features Willie and Percy Humphrey. This track was recovered from a tape that I dicovered at Seasaint Recording Studios after the flood waters receded. I found the recording stored on the top shelf in the tape vault, inches above the flood line! Hence the name, The Hurricane Sessions. The song I chose to use, originally recorded in 1976, was never used. Carl Leblanc added vocals in 2006 to create a truly magical rendition of this timeless classic.

New Orleans is a city of joy. We celebrate the bitter and the sweet of life with the resonance of horns and the beating of drums. We play music at our funerals because it connects us to a higher power. We mourn and reflect as the band plays dirges such as “Precious Lord, Take My Hand” while more upbeat songs allow us to rejoice, dance and celebrate the beauty and cycle of life.