UW-Stevens Point: New Orleans jazz group coming to Stevens Point

Contact:
University Relations and Communications, 715-346-3046, Fax 715-346-2042

A jazz band founded in the French Quarter of New Orleans will perform in Stevens Point on Thursday, January 31, as part of the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Performing Arts Series.

Preservation Hall Jazz will perform at Sentry Theater at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $18 for adults, $14 for senior citizens and $6 for youth. UWSP students with ID may buy tickets in advance for $4.50 or be admitted free the day of the show if seats remain.

Tickets may be purchased at University Information and Tickets, located in the Dreyfus University Center concourse. Between January 2-18, the ticket office will be open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. After January 22, office hours will be 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. weekdays, and noon to 9 p.m. on weekends. Tickets may also be ordered by calling (715) 346-4100 or (800) 838-3378. Visa, MasterCard and Discover are accepted.

Founded in 1961 at Preservation Hall in New Orleans, the band has traveled worldwide to perpetuate the art of New Orleans jazz. They began touring in 1963 and have performed in Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and for British royalty and the king of Thailand. Many of the band’s charter members performed with the pioneers of jazz, including Buddy Bolden, Jelly Roll Morton, Bunk Johnson and Louis Armstrong, who is quoted as saying, “”Preservation Hall. Now that’s where you’ll find all of the greats.”

Band leaders have included brothers Willie and Percy Humphrey, husband and wife Billie and DeDe Pierce, and famed pianist Sweet Emma Barrett. Following in their footsteps is current band leader and trumpeter John Brunious.