Preservation Hall Celebrates Jazz Fest 2009 with Fifth Annual Midnight Preserves Series

Preservation Hall is proud to announce the return of Midnight Preserves, the popular late-night Jazz Fest music series hosted by the world-renowned home of Traditional New Orleans Jazz. Now in its fifth year, Midnight Preserves offers music fans the opportunity to experience intimate performances from legendary New Orleans artists as well as rare small-venue performances from some of the biggest names on the national scene. Tickets are now on sale via ticketweb.com. Performers include Zigaboo and Friends, Marva Wright, Walter Wolfman Washington, The Del McCoury Band, The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Leo Nocentelli, Eric McFadden and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band. Ticket sales will be limited for these intimate performances, so click HERE to order in advance!

MIDNIGHT PRESERVES, 2009:
Friday, April 24, 11:59pm -
Zigaboo and Friends with special guest Marva Wright, $25 (early purchase price!)
Saturday, April 25, 11:59pm -
Zigaboo and Friends with special guest Walter Wolfman Washington, $25 (early purchase price!)
Sunday, April 26, 8:30pm -
The Del McCoury Band and Preservation Hall Jazz Band, $25
Sunday, April 26, 11:00pm -
The Del McCoury Band and Preservation Hall Jazz Band, $25
Thursday, April 30, 11:59pm -
Rebirth Brass Band, $15 (early purchase price!)
Friday, May 1, 11:59pm -
The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, $20
Saturday, May 2, 11:59pm -
Eric McFadden, Leo Nocentelli and Friends, $25

PHJB and Blind Boys of Alabama: On the Road Again!

Ladies and Gentlemen,

As you may already know, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band has had the distinct honor of touring with five-time Grammy Winners the Blind Boys Of Alabama over the course of the last year. The Down By The Riverside Tour has been a great success, and a whole bunch of fun for everybody involved. And they just keep going! If you'd like to know when they'll be visiting a town near you, click HERE to be directed to the PHJB touring schedule, complete with Down By The Riverside dates in March and April. (More dates to come!)

If you're not in a position to be able to get out to any of these great shows, fear not! Please enjoy the following video featuring the Preservation Hall Jazz Band and the Blind Boys of Alabama in performance at the National Geographic headquarters!

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And for those fans who are looking for a little more, you can click HERE to purchase a DVD featuring the Blind Boys of Alabama in performance with specials guests Dr. John, Susan Tedeschi, Henry Butler, Marva Wright, and of course, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band. The DVD is called Live In New Orleans. Here's a brief description:

In the spring of 2008 the Blind Boys of Alabama headed to New Orleans to play a sold-out show at the iconic Crescent City club Tipitina's. The city, of course, was the focus of the band's latest CD, Down in New Orleans, and on that very special night the Blind Boys invited some of their favorite musicians to play with them...

Against Backdrop of Carnival Revelry, New Orleans Loses Two Greats

Mardi Gras 2009 has drawn to a close. As the city of New Orleans collectively sweeps up the confetti and moves forward into the comparatively sober days that lay ahead, the time is right for relflection and testament. Sadly, our cultural fabric has been dealt a significant blow in the last week. Two great figures of the New Orleans musical scene have passed on. And as much as we mourn their passing, we smile to think that, if they had to go, they might've been pleased to do so in the midst of our most celebrational time of year.

On Tuesday, February 17th, Snooks Eaglin went into cardiac arrest. He died on Wednesday, the 18th. At 72 years old, Snooks was well-known as one of New Orleans' most talented and idiosyncratic rhythm & blues guitarists.

Please follow this link to Keith Spera's wonderful article about his life and career for the New Orleans Times-Picayune.

And sadly, though perhaps fittingly, Miss Antoinette K-Doe passed away on Mardi Gras day after suffering a massive heart attack at her beloved Mother-In-Law Lounge. A true lover of Mardi Gras, Miss Antoinette was widow to legendary New Orleans rhythm-and-blues singer Ernie K-Doe. After he passed in 2001, she made it her personal mission to keep his memory alive through the shrine-like interior of her Claiborne Avenue lounge (named after Ernie's biggest hit), and frequent public appearances with a life-like mannequin replica whom she always addressed and presented by Ernie's name. A truly transcendent figure in the New Orleans musical community, she easily bridged the divide between old school New Orleans culture and the eccentric new blood inherent to the younger hipster community. She was there for us all. Miss Antoinette was 66 years old.

Please follow this link to Keith Spera's lovely article about Miss Antoinette in the New Orleans Times-Picayune.

Here at Preservation Hall, we had the great honor of filming Miss Antoinette and her beloved Ernie Statue for last year's "I Can't Give You Anything But Love," our music video for the song which appears on The Preservation Hall Jazz Band's 2005 release, The Hurricane Sessions. We post it here now in her honor...

Preservation Hall Jazz Band Cuts New Album!

That's right, ladies and gentlemen. A brand-new Preservation Hall Jazz Band CD is in the works. Here in New Orleans, we've had the pleasure of enjoying performances from the full touring lineup of our world-famous group for several weekends running while they put down the tracks for this exciting new album. Recorded right here in the performance space at Preservation Hall, this album is shaping up to be a beautiful representation of our amazing new lineup at their finest. We can't tell you what songs will appear on the finished product yet, but we can tell you who's playing them!

Trombone: Freddy Lonzo
Drums: Joe Lastie Jr.
String Bass: Walter Payton
Sousaphone/String Bass: Ben Jaffe
Piano: Rickie Monie
Tenor Saxophone: Clint Maedgen
Clarinet: Charlie Gabriel
Trumpet: Mark Braud

You're not going to believe this lineup, folks. Outta this world. Stay tuned for more news regarding the new album, and keep an eye on PreservationHall.com for your opportunity to see this amazing group in a venue near you!

Congratulations To The Blind Boys Of Alabama!

The Preservation Hall Jazz Band is proud to offer their sincere congratulations to five-time grammy award winners The Blind Boys Of Alabama. In addition to being awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Recording Academy last night, these trailblazing gentlemen were honored with the prize for Best Traditional Gospel Album for their critically acclaimed recording, Down In New Orleans. Keep an eye out for fresh tour dates as PHJB and The Blind Boys Of Alabama continue their "Down By The Riverside Tour" this spring!

PHJB in The Curious Case of Benjamin Buttons!

"I was born under unusual circumstances."

And so begins "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," adapted from the 1920s story by F. Scott Fitzgerald about a man who is born in his eighties and ages backwards. A man, like any of us, unable to stop time. We follow his story set in New Orleans from the end of World War I in 1918, into the 21st century, following his journey that is as unusal as any man's life can be. Directed by David Fincher, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" is a time traveler's tale of the people and places he bumps into along the way, the loves he loses and finds, the joys of life and the sadness of death, and what lasts beyond time.

And now you can own the soundtrack to this wonderful movie, featuring songs from the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Billie & DeDe Pierce, and a host of other classic New Orleans Jazz artists. See the movie! Buy the music! Enjoy New Orleans...

GRAMMY TIME! Blind Boys of Alabama Nominated for 'Down In New Orleans'

The Blind Boys of Alabama’s latest release, Down In New Orleans, has been nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Traditional Gospel Album.

Released on January 29th, Down in New Orleans represents the band’s desire to bring hope to the still-storm-ravaged city and includes performances by some of New Orleans’ finest, including Allen Toussaint, The Hot 8 Brass Band, and The Preservation Hall Jazz Band. “We may not be able to swing a hammer,” explains founding member Jimmy Carter, “but we hope we can help inspire folks with a song.”

Produced by Chris Goldsmith, The Washington Post said of the record, "Inspired and relevant, [Down In New Orleans] borders on the miraculous." USA Today praised the "rousing musical tribute to New Orleans," Rolling Stone called it “A super weapon of roots-music uplift,” while the Toronto Sun gasped that the CD is “Inspirational."

The Blind Boys are currently on their Christmas tour and will be on tour throughout 2009 including performing the National Anthem at the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 5.