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Preservation Hall Jazz Band: Preservation Hall Jazz Band: Preservation
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Preservation: An Album To Benefit Preservation Hall & The Preservation Hall Music Outreach Program
Preservation Hall
2010
What do you get when you cross America's best traditional jazz band with 20 emerging or legendary musical artists? You get a terrific collection of highly listenable traditional jazz performances by a highly improbable combination of musicians and vocalists. Who would have thought to have Del McCoury sing "After You've Gone" with his heavy country twang? Or
Tom Waits
piano and vocalsb.1949
Jaffe made a wish-list of performers whom he hoped would come to New Orleans to play with the band. Surprisingly, they all agreed to do so. He showed them around the city and then brought them to the warm confines of Preservation Hall to record with the band. The result is an album that will have widespread appeal, as performers known by the young

Andrew Bird
violin
Angelique Kidjo
vocalsb.1960

Pete Seeger
banjo1919 - 2014

Dr. John
piano1940 - 2019

Louis Armstrong
trumpet and vocals1901 - 1971
The album elicits feelings of both joy and bemusement. Joy because that is what traditional jazz creates when played by some of its greatest musicians, and bemusement because of the pairing of some great singers and musicians with the band. Andrew Bird brings his skillful violin playing, as well as a voice with great range, to "Shake It And Break It." Tom Waits' craggy voicings on the Mardi Gras-tinged "Tootie Ma Was A Big Fine Thing" is just plain fun. Merle Haggard's version of "Basin Street Blues" skillfully joins a country voice and jazz in a surprisingly pleasant rendition of this old standard. Richie Havens sings a hauntingly beautiful blues ballad on "Trouble in Mind" with banjo and the horn section playing beautifully in the background. Preservation Hall vocalist Clint Maedgens performs with the Blind Boys of Alabama on the fired-up gospel tune "There Is Light" behind the powerful organ playing of the hall's pianist Rickie Monie. Each of the tunes on this album deserves a comment, but more than that, each deserves a listen.
Preservation is released as a benefit album to support Preservation Hall and its Music Outreach Program. The album will also benefit traditional jazz in general. As younger generations shun jazz for hip hop, country and independent music, how will jazz lure listeners? How will a century old (and counting) music form stay fresh? Ben Jaffe and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band have created something brilliant with this album. They have kept the jazz traditional, and have brought in popular artists to collaborate with them. This album will no doubt have cross-over appeal. It is something that both young and old listeners should enjoy, be they country, rock or jazz fans. In that sense, the disc, as the title implies, is a preservation of all that is good about traditional jazz, while at the same time being an ambassador to a new generation of fans.
Tracks: Shake It And Break It (with Andrew Bird); Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea (with Paolo Nutini); Tootie Ma Was A Big Fine Thing (with Tom Waits); Louisiana Fairytale (with Yim Yames); After You've Gone (with Del McCoury); Freight Train (with Ani DeFranco); Blue Skies (with Pete Seeger and Tao Rodriguez-Seeger); Nobody Knows You (with Jason Isbell); Old Rugged Cross (with Brandi Carlisle); Trouble in Mind (with Richie Havens); Basin Street Blues (with Merle Haggard); There Is A Light (with Blind Boys of Alabama); Winin Boy (with Dr. John); Rockin Chair (with Louis Armstrong); Baby Won't You Please Come Home (with Amy LaVere); Tain't Nobody's Business (Steve Earle); Some Cold Rainy Day (with Cory Chisel); I Ain't Got Nobody (with Buddy Miller); La Vie En Rose (with Angelique Kidjo and Terence Blanchard).
Personnel: Mark Braud: trumpet; Ben Jaffe: tuba; Walter Payton: string bass; Clint Maedgen: tenor sax, clarinet, vocals; Rickie Monie: piano; Joe Lastie: drums; Freddie Lonzo: trombone; Lucien Barbarian: trombone; Charlie Gabriel: clarinet; Carl LeBlanc: banjo; Ernie Elly: drums; Daniel Farrow: tenor sax; Leon "Kid Chocolate" Brown: trumpet; Shannon Powell: tambourine.
">Track Listing
Shake It And Break It (with Andrew Bird); Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea (with Paolo Nutini); Tootie Ma Was A Big Fine Thing (with Tom Waits); Louisiana Fairytale (with Yim Yames); After You've Gone (with Del McCoury); Freight Train (with Ani DeFranco); Blue Skies (with Pete Seeger and Tao Rodriguez-Seeger); Nobody Knows You (with Jason Isbell); Old Rugged Cross (with Brandi Carlile); Trouble in Mind (with Richie Havens); Basin Street Blues (with Merle Haggard); There Is A Light (with Blind Boys of Alabama); Winin Boy (with Dr. John); Rockin Chair (with Louis Armstrong); Baby Won't You Please Come Home (with Amy LaVere); Tain't Nobody's Business (Steve Earle); Some Cold Rainy Day (with Cory Chisel); I Ain't Got Nobody (with Buddy Miller); La Vie En Rose (with Angelique Kidjo and Terence Blanchard).
Personnel
Preservation Hall Jazz Band
band / ensemble / orchestraMark Braud: trumpet; Ben Jaffe: tuba; Walter Payton: string bass; Clint Maedgen: tenor sax, clarinet, vocals; Rickie Monie: piano, Joe Lastie: drums; Freddie Lonzo: trombone; Lucien Barbarian: trombone; Charlie Gabriel: clarinet; Carl LeBlanc: banjo; Ernie Elly: drums; Daniel Farrow: tenor sax; Leon "Kid Chocolate" Brown: trumpet; Shannon Powell: tambourine.
Album information
Title: Preservation Hall Jazz Band: Preservation | Year Released: 2010 | Record Label: Preservation Hall
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Instrument: Band / ensemble / orchestra
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