{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2026}} {{Infobox film | name = A Tuba to Cuba | image = A_Tuba_to_Cuba_(2018)_Poster.jpeg | caption = Theatrical release poster | alt = | director = {{plainlist| * T. G. Herrington * [[Danny Clinch]]}} | producer = {{plainlist| * Nicelle Herrington * Han Soto * T. G. Herrington}} | writer = T. G. Herrington | starring = {{plainlist| * [[Ben Jaffe]] * Walter Harris * [[Charlie Gabriel]] * Ronell Johnson * Clint Maedgen }} | studio = {{plainlist| * Nom de Guerre Films * Preservation Hall Films * Setlife Films}} | distributor = [[Blue Fox Entertainment]] | released = {{Film date|2018|03|14|[[South by Southwest|SXSW]]|ref1=<ref name="sxsw">{{Cite web |url=https://schedule.sxsw.com/2018/events/FS10544 |title=A Tuba to Cuba |publisher=[[South by Southwest]] |access-date=May 1, 2026}}</ref>}} | runtime = 82 minutes | country = United States | language = English | gross = $124,592<ref name="bom">{{cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl1460241921/ |title=A Tuba to Cuba |website=[[Box Office Mojo]] |access-date=May 1, 2026}}</ref> }}

'''''A Tuba to Cuba''''' is a 2018 American [[documentary film]] directed by T. G. Herrington and [[Danny Clinch]]. The film follows [[Ben Jaffe]] and the [[Preservation Hall Jazz Band]] as they travel from [[New Orleans]] to [[Cuba]] to examine musical connections between [[Dixieland jazz]] and [[Cuban music]].<ref name="latimes">{{cite web |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-mini-a-tuba-to-cuba-review-20190214-story.html |title=Review: Preservation Hall Jazz Band explores its roots in documentary 'A Tuba to Cuba' |last=Goldstein |first=Gary |date=February 13, 2019 |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |access-date=March 21, 2019}}</ref><ref name="nytimes">{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/14/movies/a-tuba-to-cuba-review.html |title='A Tuba to Cuba' Review: A New Orleans Jazz Band Makes a Caribbean Connection |last=Catsoulis |first=Jeannette |date=February 14, 2019 |work=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=March 21, 2019}}</ref>

The documentary had its world premiere in the 24 Beats Per Second section at the 2018 [[South by Southwest]] Film Festival.<ref name="sxsw" /><ref name="sxswarchive">{{cite web |url=https://sxsw.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/2018FilmArchive-1.pdf |title=2018 SXSW Film Festival Archive |publisher=[[South by Southwest]] |access-date=May 1, 2026}}</ref> It was released in theaters in the United States by [[Blue Fox Entertainment]] on February 15, 2019.<ref name="bom" /><ref name="rt">{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/a_tuba_to_cuba |title=A Tuba to Cuba |website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |access-date=May 1, 2026}}</ref>

==Synopsis== ''A Tuba to Cuba'' centers on Jaffe, the son of [[Preservation Hall]] founders Allan and Sandra Jaffe, as he seeks to fulfill his father's wish to trace the band's musical roots to Cuba.<ref name="nytimes" /> The film follows members of the Preservation Hall Jazz Band during a two-week trip to Cuba, including stops in [[Havana]], [[Santiago de Cuba]] and [[Cienfuegos]].<ref name="austinchronicle">{{cite web |url=https://www.austinchronicle.com/screens/sxsw-film-review-a-tuba-to-cuba-12098701/ |title=SXSW Film Review: A Tuba to Cuba |last=King |first=Michael |date=March 15, 2018 |work=[[The Austin Chronicle]] |access-date=May 1, 2026}}</ref>

The documentary combines travel footage, performances and interviews with members of the band and Cuban musicians. It presents New Orleans and Cuba as linked through geography, history, rhythm and musical exchange across the [[Gulf of Mexico]].<ref name="austinchronicle" />

==Production== The film was directed by T. G. Herrington and Danny Clinch and written by Herrington.<ref name="rt" /> It was produced by Nicelle Herrington, Han Soto and Herrington, with production companies Nom de Guerre Films, Preservation Hall Films and Setlife Films.<ref name="rt" /><ref name="metacritic">{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/a-tuba-to-cuba/ |title=A Tuba to Cuba Reviews |website=[[Metacritic]] |access-date=May 1, 2026}}</ref>

The film was shot in [[New Orleans]] and in Cuba, including Havana, Santiago de Cuba and Cienfuegos.<ref name="latimes" /><ref name="austinchronicle" /> The film includes appearances by Jaffe, Walter Harris, Charlie Gabriel, Ronell Johnson and Clint Maedgen, along with other members of the Preservation Hall Jazz Band.<ref name="metacritic" />

==Release== ''A Tuba to Cuba'' premiered at SXSW on March 14, 2018.<ref name="sxsw" /> SXSW listed the film as a documentary feature in its 24 Beats Per Second section and identified it as a world premiere.<ref name="sxswarchive" />

Blue Fox Entertainment released the film in the United States on February 15, 2019.<ref name="bom" /><ref name="rt" /> [[Box Office Mojo]] lists its theatrical run from February 15 to July 11, 2019, with a widest release of 16 theaters and a worldwide gross of $124,592.<ref name="bom" />

==Reception== On [[Rotten Tomatoes]], ''A Tuba to Cuba'' has a 100% approval rating based on 11 critic reviews.<ref name="rt" /> [[Metacritic]] listed three critic reviews as positive, with no mixed or negative reviews, but did not assign a Metascore because the film had fewer than four critic reviews.<ref name="metacritic" />

Jeannette Catsoulis of ''The New York Times'' called the film a "joyous, wide-ranging account" of the Preservation Hall Jazz Band's 2015 visit to Cuba.<ref name="nytimes" /> Gary Goldstein of the ''Los Angeles Times'' described it as an exploration of the band's roots and wrote that the film gave viewers "a you-are-there pleasure."<ref name="latimes" /> Michael King of ''The Austin Chronicle'' wrote that the film connected New Orleans and Cuban music through "Gulf geography and radio transmissions" and said it was likely to become a classic of the music documentary genre.<ref name="austinchronicle" />

==Accolades== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Award ! Year ! Category ! Result ! Ref. |- | [[New Orleans Film Festival]] | 2018 | Audience Award, Louisiana Feature — Documentary | {{won}} | <ref name="noff">{{cite web |url=https://neworleansfilmsociety.org/noff2017-2018-jury-award-winners/ |title=NOFF 2017 + 2018 Jury Award Winners |publisher=New Orleans Film Society |access-date=May 1, 2026}}</ref> |- | Fairhope Film Festival | 2018 | Jury Award, Best Film | {{won}} | <ref name="scntv">{{cite web |url=https://www.scientology.tv/news/a-tuba-to-cuba-award-winning-musical-odyssey-tracing-the-roots-of-new-orleans-jazz-to-havana-airs-on-documentary-showcase-8050aa |title=A Tuba to Cuba, Award-Winning Musical Odyssey Tracing the Roots of New Orleans Jazz to Havana, Airs on Documentary Showcase |publisher=Scientology Network |date=December 13, 2019 |access-date=May 1, 2026}}</ref> |- | Tallgrass Film Festival | 2018 | Outstanding Cinematography | {{won}} | <ref name="scntv" /> |- | [[South by Southwest|SXSW]] | 2018 | 24 Beats Per Second | Official selection | <ref name="sxswarchive" /> |}

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * {{Official website|http://www.atubatocuba.com}} * {{IMDb title|5478446|A Tuba to Cuba}} * {{Mojo title|atubatocuba}} * {{Rotten Tomatoes|a_tuba_to_cuba}} * {{Metacritic film|title=A Tuba to Cuba}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tuba to Cuba, A}} [[Category:2018 documentary films]] [[Category:2018 films]] [[Category:American documentary films]] [[Category:Documentary films about jazz music and musicians]] [[Category:Documentary films about New Orleans]] [[Category:Films set in 2015]] [[Category:Films set in Cuba]] [[Category:Films set in New Orleans]] [[Category:Films shot in Cuba]] [[Category:Films shot in New Orleans]] [[Category:2018 English-language films]] [[Category:2018 American films]] [[Category:English-language documentary films]]