by Bill Skirving, The Knickerbocker News, June 26, 1974

From the number of Albany residents at Saratoga Performing Arts Center Sunday night to hear the Preservation Hall Jazz Band from New Orleans, there must have been more than a casual thought about Albany’s own “King Jazz” band of the post-World War I era.

The Albany unit played from coast to coast. Among the musicians was Harry P. Moffatt, then a member of the composing room staff of the old Albany Evening News. Harry was regarded as one of the leading trombonists in the country.

Harry, who was on tour most of the year, returned to the Linotype two months annually, to retain his seniority. He was as diligent a craftsman as he was a professional musician.

To get back to the Preservation Hall contingent, the six members were as much at ease and informal as they are in the French Quarter of New Orleans.

They used about as much of the spacious Saratoga stage as they do in their tiny shack-like hall in St. Peter’s Street, not far from famed Basin Street.

The concert opened with only three musicians performing: the guest pianist, who was filling in for the renowned Billie Goodson Pierce; Percy Humphrey, a 69-year-old trumpeter; and Josiah (Cie) Frazier, 70, a dazzling drummer who started his career on the Mississippi riverboats.

They had the audience in a toe-tapping mood when on sauntered Willie Humphrey, brother of Percy, with his clarinet. Willie has been dubbed the greatest living New Orleans jazz clarinetist.

Then in came “Big Jim” Robinson — 84, no less — with his trombone. They should charge Big Jim an amusement tax because he obviously enjoyed his work so much. As a matter of fact, the entire band should be hit for a like levy.

Finally and unceremoniously, Allan Jaffe walked in, picked up his tuba, and the show was in full bloom. It was a delightful hour and a half for old-time jazz buffs.

Two of the highlights were Hold That “Tigah” and, as the finale, When the Saints Come Marching In. The latter wound up in a Pied Piper procession through the orchestra section aisles, with Willie Humphrey leading the parade.

The second half of the program featured Dave Brubeck and his sons, Chris, Dan and Darius, in what is hailed as Two Generations of Brubeck, which was acclaimed by young and old.

There’s a cute story about the late Dede Pierce, for many years leader of the Preservation Hall band. Ed Lewi, promotion director for Capital Newspapers, met Dede at SPAC. They conversed at length during the band’s one-night stand.

Some months later, Ed was in New Orleans and headed for the St. Peter’s Street emporium. He walked up to the blind musician and said, “Hi, Dede.”

The leader said, “Say some more.” Ed continued briefly, when Dede triumphantly replied, “Saratoga.”

Memory is a great thing with the bandsmen. You see, they play without sheet music.

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