“Heartbroken but Far from Broken”: Preservation Hall’s Ben Jaffe Speaks on New Orleans’ Music, Spirit and Recovery After Tragedy

Photo Credit: Chris Granger

In the early hours of Jan. 1, tragedy struck New Orleans’ historic French Quarter when a man targeted New Years celebrants on Bourbon Street, taking the lives of 14 people and injuring 35 more in a deliberate collision.

Just around the corner from the terror stands Preservation Hall, the iconic venue that has honored the city’s traditional jazz and opened its unique culture to a global audience for more than six decades. Just as it did in the wake of previous disasters that shook the city, Preservation Hall and the artists behind it have stepped up as the heart of the city’s cultural heritage to bolster its spirit.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Ben Jaffe, Preservation Hall’s owner and Creative Director, reflected on the aftermath of the violence so close to home and how New Orleans’ musical heritage can unite the community in healing. “When people message me, I just been texting them back: I don’t really know what to say, except that you know we’re all safe and accounted for,” Jaffe offered candidly, still reeling from the grief that he and his neighbors are braving. “Heartbroken but far from broken. ​​And to me that’s the New Orleans spirit.”

“Music unifies the community. It’s how we rejoice. How we celebrate life. How we honor the memory of those who walked before us. That’s how I was raised,” says Jaffe, who is the son of former Pres Hall managers Allan and Sandra Jaffe and plays tuba and double bass with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band. “When musicians are by themselves, we’ll talk about how music is a prayer for us. A prayer is not always asking for something. It’s a way to give thanks. It’s like a meditation… This musical tradition is so much more than a musical tradition. It’s a cultural tradition. I mean, it should be designated as UNESCO world heritage.”

“Music is what’s going to bring the city back,” Jaffe continued. “Yesterday, when we were told that we could reopen, and the musicians came, there was such a great sense of relief. We were able to have shows here last night and every musician said essentially the same thing to me, which was ‘This is what we do.’ Throughout our lives when, through whatever the moment is, whatever the loss is, whether it’s Katrina and before that it was Betsy and Camille, or the civil rights movement, or COVID…  music is gonna be the guiding light.”

On January 4, Preservation Hall issued a statement of its own via the venue’s social channels. “We are heartbroken by the tragic events that occurred near our home in the French Quarter on January 1st. Our thoughts are with the families and loved ones affected during this devastating time,” the post reads, under an image of the venue with a sign that reads “Keep Your Head Up.” “We are feeling closer to our community than ever and remain committed to supporting those in need. We will continue to share as many resources as possible to assist in the healing process.”

Help support New Orleans’ recovery by contributing to the Greater New Orleans Foundation’s New Orleans New Year’s Day Tragedy Fund here. Read Jaffe’s full interview with The Hollywood Reporter here.

Learn more about Preservation Hall at preservationhall.com.