The Preservation Hall Jazz Band returns to the Bermuda Festival stage tonight for the first of three performances at City Hall theatre ? and what a feast of New Orleans jazz it promises to be.

Just seven musicians comprise this dynamic group, but what they lack in numbers they more than make up for in their legendary musicianship.

Bringing the unique sounds of the city known as ?The Big Easy? to Bermuda are band leader John Brunious (trumpet), Benjamin Jaffe (bass), Rickie Monie (piano), Frank Demond (trombone), Ralph Johnson (clarinet), Joe Lastie, Jr. (drums) and Don Vappie (banjo/guitar).

The Preservation Hall Jazz Band derives its name from Preservation Hall (currently closed due to damage from Hurricane Katrina), the venerable mu venue located in the heart of New Orleans? French Quarter, founded in 1961 by Allan and Sandra Jaffe. Their son Ben is the bassist in the current band.

The Preservation Hall Jazz Band began touring in 1963, and for many years there were several bands successfully touring under the name ?Preservation Hall?. Many of the charter members performed with the pioneers who invented jazz in the 20th century, including Buddy Bolden, Jelly Roll Morton, Louis Armstrong and Bunk Johnson.

Band leaders over the band?s history have included brothers Willie and Percy Humphrey, husband and wife Billie and De De Pierce, and famed pianist Sweet Emma Barrett. These founding artists, and dozens of others, passed on the lessons of their music to a younger generation who now follow in their footsteps, including present band leader and trumpeter Mr. Brunious.

Despite the current closure of Preservation Hall, the famous band continues to travel worldwide on its mission of nurturing and perpetuating the art form of New Orleans Jazz.

l Performances are tonight, tomorrow night and Wednesday night beginning at 8 p.m. Please note: doors to the theatre will close five minutes before curtain time, and there will be no late admissions until the interval.

For ticket information visit the Festival box office next to the ferry terminal on Front Street between noon and 2 p.m., or ( 296-5774.