Jazz music will once again fill the
streets of the French Quarter following Preservation
Hall's reopening on
June 10, which was its 60th anniversary. The 60-year-old venue closed
its doors on March 14, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. After 15 months of silence,
the historic French Quarter venue will have its majesty restored with
performances by multi-generational band lineups. Once again, Preservation Hall
will host a plethora of jazz musicians eager to perform on stage.
Preservation Hall was established
in 1961 to honor traditional jazz music, and has since filled the city with
intimate jazz performances for almost every night of the year. This month, the
venue can once again pursue its mission as a cornerstone of New Orleans
culture. All New Orleanians know that summer in the Crescent City simply isn't
the same without live music. What other motivation is there to brave the
humidity of New Orleans in June if not the promise of live music coming from
every direction? For a bubbly city of hospitality and happiness, live music is
one of the most sacred forms of togetherness. Preservation Hall Creative Director,
Ben Jaffe, exclaimed his joy for the musicians of New Orleans, which he
described as "the earth, air, blood, and heartbeat of this magical city," to be
reunited with the iconic venue, and the fulfillment of performance. After the
longest period of inactivity in its 60-year history, no one is more eager to
share the connectivity of music than the venue's 60-musician collective. As
stated by Preservation Hall trumpeter and bandleader, Wendell Brunious, "Let's
get this party started once again. We've earned it!"
Preservation Hall became the heart
of music in New Orleans through its history of celebrating the unique culture
of jazz, and its expansion into a melting pot of African, Caribbean, and
European musical traditions. The constant soundtrack of New Orleans is, quite
literally, a quilt of cultures, all interconnected. And how joyous it is to
have our city's soundtrack play once more.
The health and safety of the community is the top priority for the staff and musicians at Preservation Hall. The venue will follow COVID-19 safety protocol, including temperature checks, limited capacity, and a weekend performance schedule of Thursday to Sunday nights at 5 p.m., 6:15 p.m., and 7:30 p.m. for the rest of June. Masks will be required for both patrons and staff, and will be provided if forgotten. Come prepared to pay with credit card, as cash will not be accepted. Although not required, reservations are strongly encouraged at preservationhall.com.
