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On Monday night a full house welcomed the Preservation Hall Jazz Band from New Orleans for this year’s Bermuda Festival.

A six piece band and guest vocalist took the stage in an all night clapping, toe-tapping evening. Despite the close of Preservation Hall, due to the devastating effects of hurricane Katrina, the band is back on tour with a continued desire to keep their music alive.

The night started with a documentary of the history of Preservation Hall dating back as far as the early sixties when they first opened. A visiting couple by the name of Allan and Sandra Jaffe opened the hall in 1961 after falling in love with the sound of the New Orleans Jazz. They wanted to provide a home to musicians and writers so they could continue on with their wonderful heritage. Passing down through the generations the sounds that had been kept alive since the 1800s. Preservation Hall has always had a great reputation — as Louis Armstrong said: “Preservation Hall, now that’s where you will find all the greats.”

With its unique culture and sense of spirit New Orleans still lives and will continue living in the hearts of many worldwide.

The evening started on a blues note with bandleader and phenomenal trumpeter John Brunious and banjo player Carl Leblanc setting the scene. It felt like you were right in the heart of New Orleans. The song carried a sad undertone that contrasted with the numbers that followed such as Shake That Thing which had the audience smiling and clapping. It was a combination so typical of New Orleans Jazz. All six musicians had their own unique presence and such a respect for one another other that made you appreciate them even more.

Clint Maedgen, a guest vocalist appeared on stage a couple of times and gave a great vocal performance and had the audience smiling as he sang the very popular You Are My Sunshine, My Only Sunshine.

Outstanding solos by Earnest Watson on sax and Ralph Johnson on clarinet were heard throughout the evening. The drum solo performed by Joe Lastie Jr. had such a force and energy that the audience were up on their feet wanting more. Ben Jaffe on tuba and the co-director narrated throughout the night and at one point sang a song in Creole that he had been singing since childhood. He told the audience there was something special about New Orleans with its mix of cultures.

The night continued in an energetic fashion with the musicians joining the audience in song and dance with songs like Zulu Kings and When The Saints Go Marching In A conga line circled the room and a few ended up on the stage dancing next to the band. With the deep tones of the tuba, richness of the brass and the unique sounds from the banjo backed by those strong rhythms, the room truly was a rocking hall of fun.

A few band members returned for an encore, one being John Brunious who gave a heart wrenching performance of Do You Know What It’s Like To Miss New Orleans — a real touching note to end on.[[In-content Ad]]

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