Allan Jaffe, the Man Who Saved New Orleans Jazz

The Preservation Hall Jazz Band performs at the Allan Jaffe marker dedication in Pottsville, May 11, 2023. Ben Jaffe, Allan and Sandra Jaffe’s son and creative director of the band, is second from the left playing sousaphone.
Photo, Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission

Allan P. Jaffe (1935–1987) was a pivotal figure in preserving and popularizing New Orleans jazz. Born and raised in Pottsville in Pennsylvania’s Schuylkill County, he was influenced by his father, Harry Jaffe, who played mandolin and taught music before running a wallpaper and paint store. “Pottsville was home to many immigrants who came to work in the anthracite mines, resulting in an ethnically and culturally diverse population,” Joe Stolarick wrote in OffBeat Magazine in 2023. “At various picnics and community celebrations, Allan began to appreciate the functional role of music in everyday life.”

Initially learning piano and cornet, Allan eventually focused on the tuba during junior high school. In high school, his talent in music became evident. After graduating from the Wharton School of Finance at the University of Pennsylvania in 1957, he worked at his father’s store and developed a keen business acumen. Those skills would later play a crucial role in the success of Preservation Hall in New Orleans.

On Christmas 1960, Jaffe married Sandra Smolen (1938–2021) of Philadelphia. During an extended honeymoon in 1961, they discovered the vibrant yet endangered jazz scene in New Orleans. They stumbled upon an art gallery in the French Quarter where a group of jazz musicians were performing. The gallery, run by Larry Borenstein, was a makeshift venue for the aging jazz greats who had once defined the city’s sound. Recognizing the cultural significance in the music, the Jaffes took over management of the space, renaming it Preservation Hall.

Under Jaffe’s leadership, Preservation Hall became a cornerstone of the New Orleans jazz revival. He streamlined operations, reduced costs, and transformed the hall into a self-sustaining institution. His efforts to modernize the hall included transitioning to smaller, more traditional jazz bands, which contributed to its growing popularity. He also played the tuba in the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, leading the group on tours around the world and booking performances in prestigious venues.

Jaffe died of cancer in 1987, but his legacy lived on through his wife Sandra and their son Ben, who continued to lead and perform with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band.

Jaffe’s contributions to jazz and his role in sustaining a vital part of American musical heritage were substantial. His commitment to the music he loved and his innovative approach to managing Preservation Hall ensured that New Orleans jazz would continue to inspire and entertain future generations.

The Pennsylvania Historical Marker for Allan P. Jaffe was dedicated on May 11, 2023, and is located at 316 North Centre Street in Pottsville, the original location of his father’s store.

Alli Davis is the coordinator of the Pennsylvania Historical Marker Program.