Preservation Hall

Preservation Hall is a noted jazz performance hall located at 726 St. Peter Street in the French Quarter of New Orleans, Louisiana. It hosts nightly concerts featuring a rotating roster of bands. The bands of Preservation Hall typically perform jazz in the New Orleans style. Despite the fame of the institution, admittance is affordable ($8 as of early 2005). Because of limited seating, crowds typically begin lining up well in advance of a performance (no reservation are accepted), and the line is typically quite long, although sometimes musicians will play for those waiting in line.

History

The origins of Preservation Hall go back to the start of the 1960s and an art gallery run by local enterpenuer Larry Bornstein. Many older jazz musicians were then minimally employed, and Bornstein arranged for some of them to play for tips in the gallery to help draw in potential customers. More people started coming for the music than the art. Allan Jaffe took over running of the Hall, and made it into a famous institution in part by ignoring the then prevalent ideas of what was needed for a successful music business-- there was no dance floor, and no food or drinks were served, the focus being just on the music.

In addition to the French Quarter Hall, bands of New Orleans musicians tour the world under the Preservation Hall Jazz Band name.

In August of 2005, the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina forced Preservation Hall to close although the building remains largely intact. The first post-Katrina performance at Preservation Hall took place on April 27-28, 2006, commemorating its 45th Anniversary.

Further reading

• Preservation Hall by William Carter

External links

• http://www.preservationhall.com/