Preservation Hall
The Preservation Hall is a legendary performance venue of the New Orleans jazz in the French Quarter of the city on the Mississippi.
The building at 726 St. Peter Street since 1961, serves as a stage for classical, traditional jazz of New Orleans. Accordingly, the atmosphere of the early 20th century was obtained: the façade and the interior walls are artificially -down and unimpressive painted, old wooden shutters close the window. The Jazz musician playing on a flat wooden stage in dim light. The rear part of the room is dark. Instead of the usual air conditioners everywhere there are only a few ceiling fans over the musicians. For the audience, there are only a couple of wooden benches for the front row at all only seat cushion. Most listeners are anyway. There are no drinks, no food, smoking is not allowed and the entrance fee is 15 USD. Despite or perhaps that's why people usually stand in line for the inlet, the Hall is also an attraction for New Orleans tourists.
There is a main cast of jazz musicians, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, which accounts for a major chunk of the regular sessions, but thanks to their Renommées good 150 days of the year is on tour around the world. For this occur again and again to other well-known jazz musicians. If there is no fixed show, wishes will be fulfilled from the audience also paid, with classic 5 USD, more specific pieces cost 10 USD The Saints 20 USD. Most played from half past eight in the evening until midnight.
History
The house in the oldest part of New Orleans was built in 1750 as a private home, served in the 19th century in the meantime as a pub and later as a photo studio. After the Second World War, the Preservation Hall was only an art gallery where the owner, Larry Borenstein (1919-1981) occasionally organized jam sessions for his friends. Since he had to keep open his gallery also at night he had no time jazz to listen to music and came up with the idea Concerts hold with him (which he 's band Kid Thomas Valentine invited ), where he declared only as practice sessions to the union and amusement tax to deal. Finally, supporters came as Barbara Reed on the idea of a non-profit Society for the Preservation of Traditional New Orleans ( 1961) to launch, so to preserve (English Preservation ) of traditional jazz, which performances have been made possible without tax levies. One of the musicians appearing, Allan Jaffe, and his wife Sandra took over the course of the year 1961, the Preservation Hall. Allan organized the events and called the touring band to life. After his death in 1987, Sandra Jaffe took over the Hall and is still the owner. Their son Ben is now a member of the Preservation Hall Jazz Band.
From the devastating Hurricane Katrina, the 2005 New Orleans devastated, especially from weeks of flooding, the higher-lying neighborhood was less affected in the French Quarter, so that the Hall was re-opened in April 2006 in order to celebrate its 45th anniversary. Was the events prior to the natural disaster rather than yet every evening, so they are limited to currently still on the second half of the week.