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Ben Jaffe | |
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 Jaffe playingsousaphone with thePreservation Hall Jazz Band, 2007 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | (1971-01-26)January 26, 1971 (age 54) |
| Genres | Jazz,New Orleans Jazz |
| Instrument(s) | Tuba, double bass |
| Website | preservationhalljazzband |
Benjamin Jaffe (born January 26, 1971) is the creative director ofPreservation Hall and plays tuba and double bass with thePreservation Hall Jazz Band.[1]
He is the son of Preservation Hall's former managers,Allan Jaffe andSandra Jaffe. Jaffe grew up in New Orleans'French Quarter, two blocks from Preservation Hall. His father, Allan, in addition to managing the Preservation Hall Jazz Band and Preservation Hall, played tuba with the band as well. From birth, Ben was brought on tour with the band during their international tours. Ben’s early musical memories are marching alongside his father inMardi Gras Parades andjazz funeral processions. He began playing in grammar school at McDonogh 15 School for the Creative Arts in the French Quarter. During high school atNOCCA, he studied upright bass underWalter Payton.[2] After high school, Ben attendedOberlin College where he received a degree in bass performance in 1992.
Following his graduation, Ben returned to New Orleans, resumed his father's position as manager of the Preservation Hall venue and joined the Preservation Hall Jazz Band on tour playing bass. Benjamin produced a number of albums for the Preservation Hall band, and most recently co-produced the band's first album of original compositions "That's It," alongsideMy Morning Jacket frontmanJim James.
Benjamin serves as the Chairman of the Board of the Preservation Hall Foundation, the charitable non-profit that serves the mission to "protect, preserve and perpetuate New Orleans jazz music and culture."
In episode 6 of "Foo Fighters: Sonic Highways,"Dave Grohl interviews Ben about his parents' role in preserving New Orleans jazz, the history ofPreservation Hall and Jaffe's current role as director, operating the hall.[3]
In 2019, Jaffe narrated the documentaryA Tuba to Cuba about the Preservation Hall Jazz Band visit toCuba in December 2015. The documentary follows the Band's travels to Cuba to retrace the connection between the New Orleans jazz music tradition and indigenous Cuban music. This was a goal of the late co-founder of Preservation Hall, Allan Jaffe.[4]
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