The spicy flavor of New Orleans jazz lit the ears and sparked the energy of BYU-Idaho students and Rexburg residents as the Preservation Hall Jazz Band performed through Center Stage on Saturday evening in the Hart Auditorium.

 The Preservation Hall Jazz Band, its members and music are all native to New Orleans. Their vision is to maintain the history of traditional New Orleans jazz music, which is the foundation for today’s modern jazz.

 “We are preserving traditional jazz – the only American art form born in New Orleans,” Carl LeBlanc, jazz band banjo player, said. “We are trying to keep this music alive as close to its musical form as possible.”

 They did exactly that with in-your-face and upbeat melodies, lyrics and rhythms.

 “New Orleans has a very unique style of jazz,” Dr. Mark Watkins, Director of Jazz Studies at BYU-I, said. “The roots of jazz go to New Orleans.”

 This jazz band stayed true to early New Orleans jazz and also included some more modern elements stemming from later jazz in Chicago, giving the band an old Dixieland sound mixed with modern traits, according to Dr. Watkins.

 These sounds energized the audience, especially the handful of jazz studies students who were scattered through the crowd. Several commented on their experiences at the concert.

 “So much of jazz today is about seeing how much the performer can impress others,” Jared Brannon, a saxophonist in BYU-Is Sound Alliance and senior from Sandpoint, Idaho, said. “These performers were there to just make great music which wasn’t flashy, but tasty.”

 “It’s good to get back to jazz’s musical roots because it reminds you of what the spirit of jazz is all about,” Sean Scrivner, a Jazz studies major and senior from Rexburg, Idaho said.

 The Preservation Hall Jazz Band brought unique and fun listening experiences to residents of Rexburg and provided a great educational experience for many.

 “This was very valuable concert,” said Dr. Watkins. “I’m grateful to Center Stage for bringing them here."