We met up with Ben Jaffe, Creative Director and Tuba player for the Preservation Hall Jazz Band the night before they headed down to the Newport Folk Festival.  Sitting in the lobby of the Fairmont Copley Hotel, we watched as the rest of the band milled about, meeting old friends and getting ready for their show that night in Copley Square.  We were excited to do this particular Instrument Interview because of all the bands out there today, the PHJB has such a wonderful connection to history, and we were sure that Jaffe would be able to give you a monologue about his tuba that would be warm and funny and full of information.  And of course, that’s exactly what happened.  When Ben walked up, we showed him a few of the old Sweet Emma and her Preservation Hall Jazz Band records we had, and immediately he got excited, pointing to the faded photograph on the record sleeve. “My father produced this record,” he said.  “That’s the trombone we use in the band today.”  We knew we were in for a treat.  And now, we’ll leave the rest to him.  The band has a 50th anniversary box set coming out on 9/25, as well as a new live album, St. Peter & 57th Street, recorded at Carnegie Hall.  You should definitely check them both out.

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