Preservation Hall

The story of Preservation Hall dates back to the 1950s at Associated Artists, a small art gallery at 726 St. Peter Street in New Orleans’ French Quarter. Upon opening the gallery, owner Larry Borenstein found it curtailed his ability to attend the few remaining local jazz concerts. He began inviting these musicians to perform “rehearsal sessions” in the gallery itself – sessions which featured living legends of New Orleans jazz, including George Lewis, Punch Miller, Sweet Emma Barrett, Billie and De De Pierce, and the Humphrey brothers. Since 1961, under the leadership of Allan and Sandra Jaffe, Preservation Hall has hosted nightly jazz performances seven days a week, sent touring bands around the world and recorded dozens of records.