Mississippi State students have an opportunity to experience the native sounds of New Orleans Tuesday as the Preservation Hall Jazz Band will perform at Lee Hall auditorium. Preservation Hall Jazz Band is named for a venue in the New Orleans French Quarter. The building was founded in 1961, and according to the band’s Web site it is one of the “last pure musical experiences left on Earth” due to its noncommercial characteristics. The band itself has been touring since 1963, and is a collection of musicians who meet up regularly at Preservation Hall to perform.
“The band that’s going to be here Tuesday is made up of artists that one way or another associate with the actual building,” said Lyceum series graduate assistant Russell Huntley.
The band will include two primary vocalists, a trombone, a bass, a drummer, a piano and a banjo. This show will be a continuance of the MSU Lyceum series.
“[The band’s sound is] New Orleans jazz with roots dating back to the earliest days of New Orleans music,” said Ben Jaffe, the band’s creative director. “The music’s origins are dance halls, churches, the red light district and marching bands.”
This show promises to be drastically different from the Lyceum Series’ last few acts, including February’s well-received performance of native African group Ladysmith Black Mambazo. Diversity is one of the primary goals of the Lyceum Series selection committee.
“They don’t want two of the same acts,” Huntley said.
Preservation Hall Jazz Band’s sound should have more of a close-to-home feel than some of the other Lyceum acts, Huntley said.
“The MSU radio station plays [jazz] a pretty good amount,” Huntley said. “It’s a big hit around the area. We are pretty close to New Orleans, and jazz is kind of a Southern thing.”
Preservation Hall Jazz Band expresses a strong desire to spread the New Orleans culture.
“Part of Preservation Hall’s mission is to expose as many people as possible to the joys of New Orleans music,” Jaffe said.
The Lyceum Series committee believes this show will be a very entertaining experience for the student body and one which they may be familiar with.
“The music is really good; they’ve given us CDs,” Huntley said. “Many people do like the jazz. Speaking personally, I think the student body at Mississippi State will love this show. Many of the students have been in New Orleans and have experienced the culture of jazz. It’s very joyful and it holds a timeless spirit.”
The show will start at 7:30 p.m. Student admission is free with MSU ID. General admission is $15 for adults, $10 for senior citizens and $8 for children.
Its mission, according to Preservation Hall, is to bring to audiences a means of temporary escape from their daily lives.
“The show is an opportunity for audience members to leave the worries and burdens of life behind and come on a musical journey to New Orleans,” Jaffe said. “[The audience can] experience the joys of New Orleans music performed by masters of the genre.