Canadian Brass is a brass quintet founded by Charles Daellenbach, Stuart La… Read Full Bio ↴Canadian Brass is a brass quintet founded by Charles Daellenbach, Stuart Laughton, and Gene Watts in 1970. In addition to maintaining a heavy touring schedule, the Canadian Brass have recorded nearly seventy albums. They have commissioned, performed, and recorded hundreds of transcriptions and original works for brass quintet. They are best known for their ability to seamlessly cross between classical and jazz styles. They are also known for their unique performance attire, consisting of black suits coupled with white gym shoes.

The current members are: Charles "Chuck" Daellenbach (tuba), Eugene "Gene" Watts (trombone), Bernhard Scully (horn), and the "Trumpet Dream Team" to fill the two trumpet positions on rotating basis. Dream Team members are: Ryan Anthony, Brandon Ridenour, Jeroen Berwaerts, along with previous members Josef Burgstaller, Ronald Romm and Stuart Laughton.

Past members include: Stuart Laughton (1970–1971, 2003–2005), Josef Burgstaller (2001–present), Jeff Nelsen (2000–2004), Ryan Anthony (2000–2003), Frederick Mills (1972–1996), Ronald Romm (1971–2000), David Ohanian (1986–1998), Martin Hackleman (1983–1986), Jens Lindemann (1996–2001), Christopher Cooper (1998–2000) and Graeme Page (1970–1983).

Basin Street Blues
Canadian Brass Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Won't you come along with me
To the Mississippi
We'll take a boat to the land of dreams
Steam down the river, down to New Orleans

The band's there to meet us
Old friends there to greet us
Where all the proud and elite folks meet

Heaven on earth, they call it Basin Street

Basin Street is the street
Where the best folks always meet
In New Orleans, land of dreams
You'll never know how nice it seems,
Or just how much it really means

Glad to be, oh yes-sirree
Where welcome's free and dear to me
Where I can lose, lose my Basin Street Blues

Basin Street, oh Basin Street

Is the street, mama
New Orleans, land of dreams

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Canadian Brass's "Beale Street Blues" describe a journey with a friend down to the mighty Mississippi, where they'll board a boat and steam their way down the river to the dazzling and radiant city of New Orleans. This city, they proclaim, is truly heaven on earth, where they will encounter all the most elegant and sophisticated people. Basin Street, they explain, is the heart of this enchanting city, where the city's finest citizens always come together. The song's narrator is ecstatic to be in such a dreamlike place, where he can be welcomed and lose himself in the magical music and energy of New Orleans.

Line by Line Meaning

Won't you come along with me
Asking someone to join on a trip

To the Mississippi
Referring to a river

We'll take a boat to the land of dreams
Traveling to a desirable location

Steam down the river, down to New Orleans
Traveling by boat to a specific city

The band's there to meet us
Referring to a musical group welcoming them

Old friends there to greet us
Referring to previous acquaintances greeting them

Where all the proud and elite folks meet
Referring to an exclusive location for the wealthy

Heaven on earth, they call it Basin Street
Referring to a desirable and heavenly area

Basin Street is the street
Emphasizing the location being named Basin Street

Where the best folks always meet
Referring to the location being for successful individuals

In New Orleans, land of dreams
Referring to a desirable location that is well-known