Preservation Hall Jazz Band

The Preservation Hall Jazz Band has worked to be more than just
the jazz band your parents knew. Creative Director and tuba
player Ben Jaffe has worked to ensure that the New Orleans
musical institution has a place in the contemporary music
conversation. That has led to some choices that purists have
questioned, but it also means the band still has a presence in
the culture, unlike many of its peers.


This week, I talk to Jaffe about the hall’s holiday traditions
and its own Christmas recordings, including a collaboration with
singer Irma Thomas for the 2013 Holidays Rule compilation, and
four Spotify Sessions recordings that the band did for the
streaming service with previous 12 Songs guests Big Freedia,
Boyfriend, and PJ Morton.


In this week’s episode, I also talk to Alexandra Scott about new
Christmas music from Norah Jones and calypso Christmas music from
Mighty Sparrow, Lord Nelson, and Lord Kitchener.


This week on the pod, I announced that am making a special
listeners-only Christmas mix. If you wish to receive a copy,
email me at alex@myspiltmilk.com.


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