Preservation Hall

organization, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 13, 2026

Quick Summary

Preservation Hall is an organization in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States, dedicated to presenting traditional New Orleans-style jazz music. It continues to feature musicians who were active during the music's formative years and those who learned from them. This style of jazz, which emerged around the turn of the 20th century, is characterized by collective improvisation, where all musicians simultaneously embellish the melody. While early recordings emphasized ensemble playing, solos also became a significant feature, influencing later jazz styles. Preservation Hall serves as a vital venue for experiencing this historic musical tradition.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

2 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

New Orleans style
…the 1940s; and another at Preservation Hall, an organization in New Orleans that into the 21st century continued to present improvised combo music by musicians who had lived in New Orleans during the music’s formative period and those who learned from them. Samuel Charters’s Jazz: New Orleans 1885–1963 (1963) is…
Read More
…the 1940s; and another at Preservation Hall, an organization in New Orleans that into the 21st century continued to present improvised combo music by musicians who had lived in New Orleans during the music’s formative period and those who learned from them. Samuel Charters’s Jazz: New Orleans 1885–1963 (1963) is…
Read More