Jazz Fest review: Preservation Hall Jazz Band brought the joy of New Orleans to the stately Maison Symphonique

A New Orleans staple, Preservation Hall Jazz Band has been playing in the tiny French Quarter venue that lends the band its name for decades, while still continuing to tour around the globe, including serving as a frequent support band for Arcade Fire.

The band has become a regular guest at the Montreal Jazz Fest over the years, quickly becoming a fan-favourite for their energetic, brass-heavy live shows and authentic Nola flavour. Their appearance this year was at the gorgeous Maison Symphonique (home of the MSO), a stunning hall outfitted with beech wood that provides crystal-clear natural acoustics. It may have lacked the intimacy and history of the actual Preservation Hall, but it felt like a suitable tribute to one of New Orleans’ most-prized exports.

London-born singer ALA.NI opened the night on a subdued note. Accompanied by a finger-picking guitarist, the powerhouse vocalist delivered a transportive set that evoked greats like Billie Holliday and Julie Andrews. A set of tranquil torch songs seems like an odd mood setter before the festive Preservation Hall Jazz Band, but ALA.NI had the already-packed theatre in the palm of her hand throughout her performance. Taking full advantage of the venue’s incredible acoustics, she even ventured out into the aisles to continue singing, letting her silky voice fill the room without any need of a microphone (and earning a well-deserved standing ovation).

The venue’s acoustics also had a downside, in that it also served to amplify the obnoxious voice of an elderly heckler who loudly demanded that ALA.NI “Get off the stage” (during her final song no less). It was an upsetting and embarrassing moment (for the crowd as well as those on-stage), but ALA.NI was quickly able to brush the interruption aside and continue with the rest of her evocative set.

A note about the crowd here; perhaps these were MSO regulars who attend every event at Maison Symphonique, but the venue was packed with some of the oldest crowd members I have ever seen at a show (which may account for the grumpy interruption). One crowd member even collapsed in the aisle at the beginning of ALA.NI’s set, leading to a tense few minutes before they were eventually helped out of the hall.

Those unfortunate moments were thankfully wiped away when Preservation Hall Jazz Band took the stage, launching into a joyous 90-minute set that immediately injected some New Orleans magic into the room.

Preservation Hall Jazz Band has been keeping the flame of New Orleans jazz and brass bands alive since it was founded by Allan Jaffe in the early 60’s, with an evolving lineup of seasoned and younger players. The lineup for this show included saxophonist Charlie Gabriel (two weeks shy of his 86th birthday), the band’s creative director Ben Jaffe on double bass and tuba (son of founder Allan Jaffe), and the exuberant Ronell Johnson on trombone, rounding out the band’s incredible set of musicians.

The band members traded solos and leading vocals throughout the night, letting all members of the band have their chance at the spotlight. Even with the band’s undeniable chops, the set had a loose and improvisational feel that made the show feel intimate, despite the stately venue.

If anything, the venue might have been too nice — this is band you need to be up and moving for, not something you sit and observe from a plush seat. When the band eventually implored the crowd to get up and dance towards the end of the set, the mood in the room drastically changed, and the thrilling energy of seeing Preservation Hall Jazz Band in a room with hundreds of people dancing suddenly clicked into place. Nothing beats seeing the Preservation Hall Jazz Band in their natural element, but this was the next best thing.