Offbeat | Jazz hall’s signature sousaphone stolen in New Orleans

Ben Jaffe, tuba player and director of the Preservation Hall Jazz Band

Be on the lookout for a wraparound tuba: Someone has stolen the signature sousaphone belonging to Preservation Hall in New Orleans.

Creative director and musician Ben Jaffe wrote about it on the traditional jazz venue’s Facebook page, saying he bought it after Hurricane Katrina to replace one lost to the 2005 storm.

A photo shows him playing the brass sousaphone, which has “Preservation Hall, New Orleans” painted on the bell.

He says it was taken last week, after a performance at New Orleans Airlift.

Jeanette Jaffe said they’ve received multiple calls since the message was posted a week ago, but none led to recovery of the instrument. She says some callers even offered their own instruments.

There’s a reward.

Sousaphones can cost up to USD13,000.

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