Preservation Hall Jazz Band: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert

Our goal for this special holiday Tiny Desk Concert is simple: to bring you joy. Preservation Hall Jazz Band is a hot and historic outfit from New Orleans, and its members brought us a tuba-wielding Santa and some original holiday cheer and praise - what they call a Cajun Christmas from the French Quarter.
We lit some lights and decorated my desk and shelves as best we could, but it's this amazing band - complete with saxophone, trombone, trumpet, drums and a couple of tubas - that lit this place up. We've never had so much dancing from the NPR crew at a Tiny Desk Concert. So enjoy the show, and happy holidays to all from NPR Music. --BOB BOILEN
Set List
"Sugar Plum"
"I Think I Love You"
"Happy Holiday"
"Dear Lord"
Credits
Producers: Bob Boilen, Denise DeBelius; Audio Engineer: Kevin Wait; Videographers: Denise DeBelius, Gabriella Garcia-Pardo, Becky Harlan, Abbey Oldham

[@5k33k]

Since it isn't listed already, here are the names of the performers: Ben Jaffe - Tuba (Curly Hair) Ronell Johnson - Tuba/Vocals (Sant Suit) Mark Braud - Trumpet Joe Lastie, Jr. - Percussion Freddie Lonzo - Trombone Clint Maedgen - White Saxophone Charlie Gabriel - Saxophone/Vocals Rickie Monie - Piano

[@birdyinabox]

This is how I will imagine Santa from now on. Tuba and all.

[@erichuang7524]

After 5 years, is this still how you imagine Santa?

[@josteinv.jordet257]

*Sousaphone

[@undomiel152003]

Love, love, love. For those who might visit New Orleans, a wholehearted recommendation to go to the Preservation Hall and experience not just the music, but the music and the place, together. One of my favorite nights in New Orleans.

[@mintoo2cool]

+undomiel152003 bucketlist++

[@rinnswimmer]

LOVE that older tenor sax’s voice! Has a hint of Louis Armstrong to it. Perfect for this music.

[@talesoftheinlandseas5063]

That older tenor sax is Charlie Gabriel, who is very very impressive. He released his first solo album at 89 years old last year. Look him up÷

[@jazzjokesjalopies]

Imagine playing the tuba and having enough brain cells left over to manage the tambourine too? Love this talented group!

[@BarbaraMcGregor-ew1ev]

Wonderful MUSIC Y'all and Charlie Gabe. New Orleans MUSIC 🎶 IS THE BEST MUSIC 🎶 . One can't sit still, and the Feet Keep MOVING TOO. ❤😂❤

[@WGBHMusic]

These guys are awesome!

[@marisgoldenhour6212]

I was fortunate to see them live during Mardi Gras years ago and it was glorious! 😊 Can only imagine how spectacular they would be in New Orleans at the Preservation Hall. Another thing to add to the list of things to do. 😊💙🖤✨

[@vitordasilva4321]

Always come back to this video... these guys are amazing! PHJB is too much fun and represent what music is all about!

[@samanthaleigh6797]

I was just at preservation hall tonight and to say I fell in love there is an understatement! Fantastic, awe striking, phenomenal music with passion!

[@MoiraRussell]

There is one word for this and that word is FANTASTIC.

[@purplegrapes44]

Absolutely sublime. Love it.

[@fashwang99]

Awesome set. First heard of these guys on a track they did with Tom Waits. Can't help but smile when listening! :]

[@nickanderson966]

Best jazz I've ever seen in my life. This is how party jazz was meant to sound!

[@PinkAmadeus]

I think I love you; I really do. This video features the best Santa after the real one.

[@DanFrechette]

Thank you for your awesome music. This is pure joy and heavenly to listen to.

[@maximeseguin9191]

feghdgsshetgdfcs

[@Partycrafter]

I love this band

[@Francisco_420]

Visited last spring for the first time, including preservation hall.. kept asking my wtf took me so long. I will be returning🤔.. I♥️NOLA

[@nataliejane9241]

I regularly receive these emails but hadn't watched one yet. What have I missed?! This is awesome!

[@pepe184i4c]

Glad I was listening to the music and not looking at dudes hair cut. Fantastic. This is real music. Merry Christmas.

[@Solutions3000]

Four years later, tis the season, again. Merry Christmas.

[@EdBuGMEnRRB]

Saw these guys locally not too long ago. great group

[@Vurpox05]

This is my kind of jazz

[@florascent9ts]

I saw these guys perform on KERA back in October and I was just waiting for them to show up on a tiny desk concert. It's a pain not being able to travel or buy music, so this was just really great!

[@Solutions3000]

Six years later, are you "able to travel or buy music"?

[@jamilzahidrestaurant]

This is some great music I found at Jamil Zahid in Laos. I am very happy here!!!

[@terryobrien9846]

100% class and style.

[@sc7prim]

Absolutely awesome!

[@Bergenslarsen]

This what I'm talking about! Wonderfully captured. Looking and sounding terrific!

[@chschickhardt]

Thank you, this made my Day! Happy New Year y'all from Sweden!

[@Teona1212]

Excellent. A happy new year to all !

[@WyattAcoustic]

Wish I was there for this performance!!! Soo good!!!!

[@sinceOhSeven]

I love this!!

[@ajomathew86]

sublime !!

[@caerulemusic]

got me snappin like a diva at 7am!

[@wusangfu]

I love these guys!

[@oradtke]

Clean as Mrs. Claus' kitchen!

[@ZimmerSquash]

Loved it.

[@Omnipotent-Bread]

Sayyyyyyy....these fellers ain't half bad!

[@Matistratocaster]

AMAZING

[@w619hunt40]

the cooniest I've ever seen!

[@ArjanLoeve]

Really cool!!!!!!!!!!!

[@WyattAcoustic]

Jammin!

[@tadakero]

You achieved your goal !!!

[@Solutions3000]

Six years later, do you remember who "achieved" what "goal"?

[@jefferyetten]

5 thumbs down. There's always that one guy. This is wonderful.

[@Solutions3000]

5 years later, 22 thumbs down. Still a testament to the music's goodness.

[@StoryeTime]

Oh yeah!!!

[@teresab208]

Play!

[@libb_y]

MM. Super good. MM.

[@isidoreizi7938]

Damn! Bigali is back in the building!

[@gbluecheez]

that trumpet player is going off

[@jasongregory3330]

Heard him play at Preservation Hall just last week. He’s the real deal…played with Harry Connick (still does), Wynton Masrsalis and currently is the leader of the Preservation Hall Band.

[@sarcasticallyrearranged]

Harry Sr. or Jr.?

[@damagedone56]

lead singer was great.

[@FRYNOISE]

Este Santa en el mall del canal street en el 11, mientras almorzabamos cajun food.

[@NaijaBoiTellEm]

These cats are money.

[@matthewbenedict5923]

12:50 yas Santa

[@johnnyprovo7157]

14 haters are getting coal this year from Krampus up their...chimneys.

[@Solutions3000]

😆Two years later, 22 "haters are getting coal this year from Krampus up their...chimneys."

[@drprfssrprft4511]

why is stanley from the office playing trombone?

[@christiandabarcaa]

Moe's grandson :)

[@MellowCruisin]

Did that Santa make his tuba out of pvc pipe? Good music

[@thegodieinafire]

No it's just a sousaphone made out of fiberglass or something. Very common in marching bands.

[@themaebee]

It's most likely fiberglass. It's a common material for sousaphones(which is what that instrument is, though the two instrument produced basically the same sound which is why they can be interchangeable) which generally is a little cheaper than using brass.

[@ernestjohnson1479]

@@thegodieinafire It is indeed fiberglass. I used one in high school, they weigh less than the metal type.

[@RichardVerret]

***** thoughts?

[@RichardVerret]

Brian Timm also!

[@lenharddedecker974]

Christian mcbride pls

[@Jerthepear]

Who are the musicians on this gig?

[@Solutions3000]

Allan Jaffe on sousaphone (tuba), as Santa. Currently, his son, Ben Jaffe, plays tuba for this band, officially taking over for his father.

[@Jerthepear]

@@Solutions3000 Thank you!

[@ekjswim]

22 people got no heart and no soul.

[@philllax1719]

tenor sax guy deserves a refund on his hair cut

[@philllax1719]

+Quinn Davis upon second look its another alto sax

[@taldimazia9194]

He kinda looks like the guy from the Lorax 😂

[@nontaskar]

Like, if you found the dude's haircut distracting.

[@jennybardoville5455]

A bit, but I kept thinking, What is Captain Holt from Brooklyn 99 doing playing drums here?

[@4realexpat]

Percy and Willie would be turning in their graves to hear this crap noise coming from a fake preservation jazz band.... I remember the last time I was in Preservation Hall and they were playing mainstream [i refuse to call it 'jazz'.].As I left I said to the woman selling tapes 'Percy would never have allowed this noise'..Her response left me cold..'Percy is dead now'...

[@gerardoortega1983]

Lol. Sounded pretty authentic when i saw them live last week.

[@Solutions3000]

Did the woman tell the truth?