Preservation Hall, located in the French Quarter just three blocks from the Mississippi River, remains an icon of New Orleans and an essential stop for all fans of traditional jazz. Since the early 1960s, "The Hall" has served as a sanctuary for the Crescent City's rich and illustrious jazz heritage, a haven for players, and an incubator for successive generations of jazz musicians. Seven nights a week the venue fills to capacity with die-hard fans and curious tourists eager to hear live New Orleans jazz played by a mix of veteran musicians and up-and-coming players. Preservation Hall dedicates itself to the authentic performance of traditional jazz. The space inside seems simple, and a large portion of the audience must stand in the back, behind a limited number of benches, chairs, and floor cushions. The Hall has no dance floor and serves no food or drink. In Preservation Hall, the music alone fills the space between listener and player. In their rare behind-the-scenes portrait, New Orleans photographer Shannon Brinkman and audio documentarian Eve Abrams capture the rhythm and cool of this historic club with both a pulsating array of images and the heartfelt words of band members.
