E007 Ben Jaffe of Preservation Hall

Ben Jaffe is creative director, second generation owner, and band leader of Preservation Hall New Orleans. Hallowed ground. One of, if not the single, most important physical space for music (and so many things), in one of, if not the, most important music city in the world. It's a beautiful place I've had the pleasure of spending lots of time in, there's nothing like it. We talk about many things, but most importantly, we dive into the foundation that started out of Katrina. Weathering that literal storm has brought Preservation Hall to a rare position of preparedness to weather the current Covid-19 storm. We think about the aspect of patronage and where artists in general are headed, how they can integrate these strategies. How the understandings of Preservation Hall (5 shows a night), Preservation Hall Jazz Band (touring worldwide since 1960s), and new ventures like Krewe du Kanaval (partnered with Win Butler and Regine Chassagne of Arcade Fire) can apply to the entire world of music. This isn't just a pleasure for me to rap with Ben, a good friend I've shared so many meaningful moments with, but I see this episode as an actual suggestion of a way forward for art and artists. Please support and find lots of info at www.preservationhall.com