The Preservation Hall Jazz Band has worked to be more than just the jazz band your parents knew. Creative Director and tuba player Ben Jaffe has worked to ensure that the New Orleans musical institution has a place in the contemporary music conversation. That has led to some choices that purists have questioned, but it also means the band still has a presence in the culture, unlike many of its peers.
This week, I talk to Jaffe about the hall’s holiday traditions and its own Christmas recordings, including a collaboration with singer Irma Thomas for the 2013 Holidays Rule compilation, and four Spotify Sessions recordings that the band did for the streaming service with previous 12 Songs guests Big Freedia, Boyfriend, and PJ Morton.
In this week’s episode, I also talk to Alexandra Scott about new Christmas music from Norah Jones and calypso Christmas music from Mighty Sparrow, Lord Nelson, and Lord Kitchener.
This week on the pod, I announced that am making a special listeners-only Christmas mix. If you wish to receive a copy, email me at alex@myspiltmilk.com.
If you haven't already done so, please do what you have to do to get Twelve Songs in your podcast feed. You can find us at Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, Pandora, and Spotify.
New Orleans Hip-Hop for Christmas with Raj Smoove and 504icygrl
Mother Mother ”Cry Christmas”
Christmas Down Under with Imogen Clark
”Holly Happy Days” with The Indigo Girls
”A Dave Brubeck Christmas” with Matt Lemmler
Merry Christmas from Japan with ”Holly Jolly Xmasu”
Christmas with the Blue Man Group
A Soul Christmas with Eli ”Paperboy” Reed
A D.C.Go-Go Christmas with Chuck Brown
A New Orleans R&B Christmas with Huey ”Piano” Smith
”Christmas Cocktails” with Brad Ross-MacLeod
Sara Noelle
The Christmas Music Manfesto
”Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”
”Santa Claus is Coming to Town” Pt. 2
”Santa Claus is Coming to Town” Pt. 1
OutKast’s ”Player’s Ball”
The ”Santa Baby” Story
Terre Roche of The Roches
Indie Christmas Music with Amerigo Gazaway, Charlie Darling, and ”Have Yourself a Merry Indie Christmas”
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