So It Is

Description

So It Is (2017), the fourth album by the New Orleans septet, marked the opening of a new chapter in which the classic sound of the Preservation Hall Jazz Band blended with new influences. Among them was a trip to Cuba that would leave a lasting mark on their lives. Once the ban on U.S. citizens entering Cuban territory was lifted, the group went there to explore the country and immerse themselves in the local jazz scene. “There has always been a connection between Cuba and New Orleans, we are part of the same family,” explains bassist and composer Ben Jaffe. “We realized there that New Orleans music did not exist on its own. It is part of something much bigger.” With the help of producer David Sitek (founding member of the rock band TV On The Radio and producer for Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Santigold, and Kelis), the group recorded in order to bring out the energy, spontaneity, and immediacy that are characteristic of the music of these two regions.