Preservation Hall Jazz Band brings Big Easy vibe to Mercyhurst
Celebrate the holidays New Orleans-style when the world-famous Preservation Hall Jazz Band brings its “Creole Christmas” tour to Mercyhurst University’s Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center on Tuesday, Nov. 28, at 7:30 p.m.
Better yet, enhance your concert-going experience with a pre-show dinner featuring traditional New Orleans cuisine. (See details below.)
“Creole Christmas,” features a gumbo of New Orleans’ holiday classics with a mix of blues, jazz, and ragtime. Selections will include “Swinging in a Winter Wonderland,” “Bells Will Be Ringin’,” and other favorites from the band’s syncopated, crowd-pleasing repertoire.
A true testament to living history, Preservation Hall Jazz Band brings over 50 years' worth of Big Easy-inspired musical stylings to the world.
Founded in 1961 by tuba player Allan Jaffe, PHJB was formed to preserve the city’s priceless musical heritage and give their veteran musicians a place to play, and it instantly attracted players linked to the glory days of the 1920s. Now run by Jaffe’s son, tuba player Ben Jaffe, the group features a wealth of New Orleans talent.
Under the younger Jaffe’s direction, the band has remained timelessly relevant, recording and sharing the stage with the likes of Allen Toussaint, the Foo Fighters, Tom Waits, Yasiin Bey (Mos Def), Dr. John, My Morning Jacket, Beck, and others. For their tireless work in performance, promotion, and preservation of New Orleans music and their commitment to education initiatives, Preservation Hall was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award at SFJAZZ Gala 2018.
“Touring is a part of our ritual,” says Jaffe. “It’s our tradition. When my parents began touring with the band in the early 60s, they brought something that most people didn’t even know existed to stages all over the world. It was this magnificent revelation to people that something so beautiful could even exist. People come to Preservation Hall and have transformative experiences, and that’s part of our mission: to go out in the world and make that experience available to people.”
Concert tickets, priced $20-$45, can be purchased online online via the MIAC ticketing website, over the phone at 814-824-3000, or in person at the Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center box office (Tuesday-Thursday, noon-5 p.m.). Each order is subject to a $4 per ticket processing fee, regardless of purchase or payment method.
“Creole Christmas” is sponsored by Lincoln Recycling, H. Jack Langer Plumbing & Heating Co., and Gary’s Flower Shoppe, and the 2023-2024 MIAC Live season is made possible through the generous support of Scott Enterprises, Aetna, Alan & Patti Schaal, the Greater Erie Alliance for Equality, and the Erie County Gaming Revenue Authority.
Pre-Show Dinner
Patrons can enhance their concert-going experience with a pre-show dinner featuring traditional New Orleans cuisine. The buffet-style meal, hosted by MIAC and Parkhurst Dining Services, will be served from 5:30 p.m. until 7 p.m. in the Mercy Heritage Room.
The menu will include shrimp creole, yaka mien, red beans and rice, fried catfish with remoulade, Treme fried chicken, maque choux, beef grillades, cornbread muffins, praline pecan pie, bananas foster, chicory coffee, water, and soft drinks. Additionally, each guest aged 21 or older will receive a token redeemable for one alcoholic beverage.
Dinner tickets, priced $40 per person, can be purchased online via the MIAC ticketing website, over the phone at 814-824-3000, or in person at the Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center box office (Tues.-Thurs., noon-5 p.m.). Seating is limited to 100 guests.
Please Note: Dinner tickets are an add-on option and do not include tickets to the concert.