In 1961, art dealer
Larry Borenstein opened up
Preservation Hall in New Orleans. Run by the young tuba player
Allan Jaffe, the hall soon became the unofficial home of the city's top veteran musicians. Over time, the
the Preservation Hall Jazz Band was formed and went out on constant tours, spreading the joy of
New Orleans jazz around the world. Many major players spent time in the group. One of the most famous versions was in the late '70s -- the band heard on this 1977 recording. None of the musicians (trumpeter
Percy Humphrey, his brother
Willie on clarinet, trombonist
Frank Demond (who had replaced the late
Jim Robinson), pianist
Sing Miller, banjoist/singer
Narvin Kimball, drummer
Cie Frazier, and
Jaffe on tuba) were among the immortals of
New Orleans jazz but they fit their roles well. The repertoire on this disc includes
Dixieland favorites (
"Tiger Rag," "Bill Bailey (Won't You Please Come Home)," and
"Panama"); a few
spirituals (
"Amen," "Over in Gloryland," and
"His Eye Is on the Sparrow"); the sentimental
"Memories"; and a couple of
blues numbers (
"Good Blues" and
"Joe Avery"). There are no virtuosos in the band, but its ensembles are full of spirit and the music is difficult to listen to without smiling. ~ Scott Yanow
