Andrew Hall met David Bowie on just one occasion.

“Wild, that was,” says Hall, sharing with textbook British dry wit the story of Bowie’s after-party for the 1970 “Night in New Orleans” concert at London’s Rainbow Theatre, which featured headliner Dr. John plus the Meters on a bill that also included Hall’s Preservation Hall-inspired Society Brass Band. “It was when [Bowie] had his...