Tommy Sancton’s New Orleans Legacy Band at Preservation Hall

by Brian Weidy

NEW ORLEANS, La. - Tommy Sancton brought his New Orleans Legacy Band to the legendary Preservation Hall, Monday night, one of the most famous places to hear live music down here.  The band, consisted of Wendell Eugene (Trombone), Clive Wilson (Trumpet), Richard Moten (Upright Bass) , Lars Edegran (Piano), Shannon Powell (Drums, who I had the privilege of seeing with his own trio last night), and the man who brought this whole thing together, Tommy Sancton (Clarinet and Saxaphone.)

The band began their 45 minute set with "Yearning (Just For You)" written by Benny Davis in 1925 and featuring solos from the whole band.  Next up was "Girl of My Dreams," a song made famous by Charles Mingus off of his landmark album Mingus Ah Um, sung by Wendell Eugene in his raspy, not particularly great voice.  

Pointing out that French culture has permeated deeply through the culture and the music in New Orleans (a pair of delegates from the French embassy were in attendance), Tommy Sancton sang and played the head on "C'est Magnifique," a 1953 showtune which despite never gaining great popularity has blossomed into a true Jazz standard.  After that came "Petite Fleur," another French song written by Sidney Bechet who travelled from New Orleans to live out the last years of his life in Paris.

Next was an 18th century creole song called, "Eh La Bas" sung by Wendell Eugene, in which the whole crowd began singing along in a call-and-response fashion. (Dr. John used the same tune in his song "Iko Iko.")  To finish out the set, the band ripped through (so to speak) an uptempo version of "Weary Blues" – or, as its more colloquially known, "Shake It and Break It".  The song was sung by Shannon Powell and was the quickest song of the evening, ending with a raucous drum solo which was performed exclusively on the hi-hat.

Overall, if you ever find yourself in New Orleans, Preservation Hall is an absolute must see on your journey – if not for the band that's playing, then for the immense history that lies within its walls.