In 1961 Sandra Jaffe and her husband Allan stopped off in New Orleans. They dropped by Larry Borenstein's art gallery to take in a jazz concert. They were so taken by the music they never left the Big Easy. Borenstein offered the couple the opportunity to take over his French Quarter gallery space to promote jazz concerts. Offer accepted, Preservation Hall was born. Allan played sousaphone in the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Sandra took care of business. Occasionally she acted as bouncer when dealing with a 'difficult' customer!
For more than sixty years Preservation Hall has kept the flame burning, the small room attracting musicians and fans from all over the world. More than one musician from the north east of England has performed at Preservation Hall, what a thrill that must have been! The Jaffes' son, Ben Jaffe, has long since led the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, regularly touring the globe (Sage Gateshead has played host to the band). Sandra Smolen Jaffe died on December 27, 2021. In lieu of flowers, the Jaffe family requests donations be made to the Preservation Hall Foundation (www.preshallfoundation.org). Russell
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