Jazz Fest Shabbat reveals its Jewish roots

By ALAN SMASON

When tubist Ben Jaffe, the creative director of the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, moved forward to speak on Friday evening, April 24, as one of the featured performers for the 24th annual Jazz Fest Shabbat, he uttered a phrase never before heard at any of the previous celebrations of Jewish worship and secular music.

Preservation Jazz Band members with Ben Jaffe on tuba perform at last Friday night’s Jazz Fest Shabbat. (Photo by Alan Smason)

“When I made my Bar Mitzvah here…” he began his talk to the mostly full sanctuary as the crowd reacted with laughter. Jaffe, indeed, is the first former congregant of Touro Synagogue to be invited back to star as part of the Jazz Fest Shabbat held there.

The Preservation Hall Jazz Band played a short selection of traditional jazz and rhythm and blues selections including “Walking to New Orleans” before concluding the worship service with a toe-tapping rendition of “Adon Olam” to the tune of “When the Saints Go Marching In,” the standard they have made their most popular tune.

The crowd was treated to an early performance by members of  the Sophie Wright Marching Band, which concluded shortly before Touro congregant David Bernstein blew several blasts of his shofar to signal the beginning of the worship service.

Led by music director Terry Maddox, the powerful combination of the Touro Synagogue Choir, along with the Panorama Jazz Band and its clarinetist leader Ben Schenck with Adam Matasar on piano brought worshippers into an unusual musical space.

Preservation Hall Jazz Band creative director and tuba player Ben Jaffe. (Photo by Alan Smason)

Cantor David Mintz used the occasion to display his magnificent instrument, calling upon arranger and composer friend Toby Singer to provide two new melodic arrangements of liturgical songs for inclusion in the service, “L’Ch N’ran’na” and “Mizmor Shir.”

Mintz also called upon his wife Deborah and Singer to accompany him in song.

Prior to the conclusion of the service with the traditional recitation of the Aleinu and the Mourner’s Kaddish, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band was ushered into the sanctuary to perform with Mark Braud on trumpet, Charlie Gabriel on clarinet and vocals, Ronell Johnson on trombone and vocals, Joe Lastie on drums, Rickie Monie on piano and Clint Maedgen on saxophone and vocals.

The weekend of the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival concluded this past weekend at the historic Fair Grounds.