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Preservation Hall Jazz Band: Preservation

Preservation Hall

New Orleans’ legendary Preservation Hall Jazz Band is the latest group to receive a reboot with the help of some famous friends on the all-star benefit album Preservation.
Notably better than the average collaborative effort, Preservation succeeds because the lauded ensemble remains commitment to traditional, Dixieland New Orleans jazz. Though the album’s celebrity guests are associated with such diverse styles as indie-folk ( Andrew Bird, Cory Chisel ), alt-country ( Jason Isbell, Steve Earle ), singer/songwriter ( Richie Havens, Ani DiFranco ), American roots music ( Pete Seeger, Del McCoury, Blind Boys of Alabama ) and places in between ( Tom Waits, Angelique Kidjo ), each performer essentially curbs his individual voice to fit with Preservation Hall Jazz Band’s distinctive sound. Album highlights include Jim James’ delivery of “Louisiana Fairytale” through a retro-New Orleans bullhorn, and a lost recording by jazz pioneer Louis Armstrong.