SLCene Suggests: Preservation Hall Jazz Band at Capitol Theatre

PRESERVATION HALL JAZZ BAND, CAPITOL THEATRE, Monday, April 14, 7:30 p.m., $33.50

While I knew of the existence of the Preservation Hall Jazz Band for years before I heard them, I truly got into the group led by creative director Ben Jaffe in the post-Katrina focus on the struggles of New Orleans musicians after the hurricane. An album of collaborations between the traditional Big Easy jazz players and folks like My Morning Jacket, Steve Earle, Ani DiFranco and other non-jazz artists lured me in to the band’s sound. a later collaboration with the Del McCoury Band, my favorite bluegrass outfit, only made me more of a Preservation Hall Jazz Band fan. And my unabashed love was sealed when I saw them at one of the Jazz at the Sheraton shows a few years back, turning a hotel ballroom into a frenzied feast of soulful excellence. Now more than 50 years into its existence, the band just released That’s It, its first collection of all-original material, produced by My Morning Jacket’s Jim James. Expect to hear a heavy dose of it Monday night at the Capitol Theatre, along with the traditional faves that make Preservation Hall Jazz Band a must-see whether you’re visiting New Orleans or they’re appearing in your town.