arts & entertainment A Legacy Of Jazz Ben Jaffe, son of the founder of New Orlean's legendary Preservation Hall Jazz Band, reflects on the venue's past and present. Matt Robinson I JNS.org ends like the Humphrey Brothers, Walter Payton (father of Nicholas) and others. "If I wasn't at home, I was at Preservation Hall rowing up in New Orleans as the two blocks away" son of the couple who turned When asked if he has any particular a French Quarter art gallery memories of his days in the hall, Jaffe into one of the longest-running and most smiles and says, "Memories? My whole successful music venues in the world — childhood is one big fairytale memory!" Preservation Hall — Jewish tuba player/ In addition to collaborating with mem- bass player Ben Jaffe had jazz running bers of his own band and their musical through his veins from a very early age. predecessors, Jaffe was privileged to go on Jaffe recalls in an interview with JNS.org gigs and tours with some of New Orleans' that spending time during his childhood (and the world's) greatest creative powers. with the legendary likes of Allen Toussaint, "I was blessed to grow up around an incred- Pete Seeger and the Creole duo of Billie and ible community of musicians and artists," De De Pierce was like "going to your grand- he says. parents' house and hearing them speak In addition to having the sound of Yiddish:' Yiddish — the mamaloshen — in his Despite his father Allan's passing in 1987 ear, Ben grew up at the knee of his tuba- (his mother Sandra is retired and now lives playing father. in Florida) and the near destruction of his "I had the sound of bass in my [head] home and his state- long before I started of-the-art record- playing music:' ing studio during explains the tuba Hurricane Katrina in and bass player who 2005, Jaffe continues began playing at age to manage the hall 6 and performed and perform and pro- in his first Mardi mote his beloved jazz Gras parade with his in New Orleans and father at age 9. around the world. When asked what This September, else might have led the band celebrated him to his musical the release on the choices, Jaffe explains Columbia/Legacy that he believes label of its box set, people "gravitate to The 50th Anniversary instruments that Collection, as well reflect their person- as its live album ality:' from an acclaimed Perhaps this is Carnegie Hall per- why Jaffe has been formance, St. Peter & Preservation Hall in New Orleans able to remain so 57th Street. grounded despite As he prepares to perform with the the highs of fame and the lows of sadness Preservation Hall Jazz Band in a Detroit that have befallen his family, his city and Symphony Orchestra Paradise Jazz Series his genre in recent years. concert at 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 6, at In addition to mourning his father and Orchestra Hall, Jaffe found a few moments his studio (which housed many of the hall's to reflect on his musical life thus far. archives, some of which were thankfully "I grew up around Preservation Hall," saved and preserved on the new box set), Jaffe explains, reminiscing about days and Jaffe lost many friends in Katrina and has nights spent with his father and local leg- also seen how jazz as a whole has been G 72 November 29 • 2012 The Preservation Hall Jazz Band at JazzFest 2008, featuring Carl LeBlanc on banjo and Ben Jaffe on upright bass T he members of Preservation Hall Jazz Band are no strangers to the disastrous aftermath of a hurricane, having endured Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Following Katrina, they launched Renew Orleans, along with partners Ropeadope and Okayplayer. The project raised more than $80,000 for local musicians. In addition to the financial support, the shirts captured the pride and determination of the people of New Orleans. In the wake of Hurricane Sandy, which put millions of people in dan- ger and hurt the lives and livelihood of thousands of artists and musicians, slowly dying as clubs continue to close and radio stations continue to cut their jazz programming. That is why he continues to work so hard to maintain and preserve not only the legacy of the hall (which, as its name attests, was created as a means of preserv- ing the original sound of New Orleans jazz) but also of the city. While Katrina devastated much of his physical home, Jaffe is almost thankful for the hurricane that revealed the true heart and soul of the Crescent City. "I never knew how strong of a communi- ty we have in New Orleans until Hurricane Katrina," he says, noting that, as the hall has gone, so too has the city. "Preservation Hall is a reflection of New Orleans," he suggests. Jaffe sees the traditions of the hall and the city not only as a matter of pride but as one of "responsibility" to care for and nourish his traditions and those of the music on which he and his family (imme- diate and far extended) were raised. That is why, 50 years on, Jaffe gives the Preservation Hall Jazz Band has part- nered up with Ropeadope, Okayplayer, the Jazz Foundation of America and the NYC Food Truck Association to form Renew York and aid those affected by the tragedy. T-shirts are on sale to raise money needed for artists and musicians who were affected. Shirts are being sold online and at select outlets, with 40 per- cent of the gross sale going directly to organizations providing relief for those affected by the storm. Buy tees at: http://store.ropeadope. com/products/renew-york. ❑ — Gail Zimmerman same heart and soul to the hall and to the music that his father and his many musi- cal friends shared. "I want to pass on the tradition the generations before me passed to me:' Jaffe says. "It's important to me to pass on the musical traditions that I inherited. That's the greatest gift in the world:' Jaffe remains astonished by what the hall and its legendary "house band" have meant to his city and the world. "It's amazing how much joy the band has brought into the world:' he observes. "We are better people because of Preservation Hall:' ❑ The Preservation Hall Jazz Band swings in the holiday season New Orleans-style, with favorites like "Blue Christmas, "Swinging in a Winter Wonderland" and "The Dreidel Song" at 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 6, at Detroit's Orchestra Hall. Tickets: $18 and up. (313) 576-5111. www.dso.org .