The Preservation Hall Jazz Band usually performs nightly at Preservation Hall in New Orleans, and tours around the world over 150 days a year. Hurricane Katrina, however, forced Preservation Hall to close through the fall and winter of 2005, and the building remained shut until April 2006. The band continued to tour while the hall was closed.
Art dealer Larry Borenstein opened an art gallery in a building he called Associated Artists Studio in 1961. This evolved into Preservation Hall. A young tuba player, Allan Jaffe, ran the hall and organized tours for the musicians who often performed there, naming the band after the venue. The late Allan Jaffe was often in the Preservation Hall band; his son string bass player Ben Jaffe often is now.
The group has been touring the United States for more than 25 years. The Preservation Hall Jazz Band seek to preserve music evolved in New Orleans, and to bring it to contemporary audiences.
In 2006, the band was awarded the National Medal of Arts.
Current members include: Lucien Barbarin (trombone), Mark Braud (trumpet), Frank Demond (trombone), Charlie Gabriel (clarinet & saxophone), Ben Jaffe (bass & tuba), Leroy Jones (trumpet), Joseph Lastie, Jr (drums), Carl Le Blanc (banjo), Freddie Lonzo (trombone), Clint Maedgen (vocalist & saxophone), Rickie Monie (piano), Walter Payton (bass), Shannon Powell (drums), Mari Watanabe (piano)
A partial listing of the musicians who have played under the Preservation Hall Jazz Band name includes:
* Kid Thomas Valentine - trumpeter
* Punch Miller - trumpeter
* De De Pierce - trumpeter
* Percy Humphrey - trumpeter
* Kid Sheik Colar - trumpeter
* Louis Nelson - trombonist
* Jim Robinson - trombonist
* Frank Demond - trombonist
* George Lewis - clarinetist
* Albert Burbank - clarinetist
* Willie Humphrey - clarinetist
* Raymond Burke - clarinetist
* Joseph Rochambeau - pianist
* Billie Pierce - pianist
* "Sweet Emma" Barrett - pianist
* Jeanette Kimball - pianist
* Sing Miller - pianist
* Alcide "Slow Drag" Pavageau - bass
* Narvin Kimball - banjo
* Emanuel Sayles - banjo
* Josiah "Cie" Frazier - drums
* Walter Payton - bass
* Clint Maedgen - saxophone, clarinet, vocals
* Shannon Powell - drums
Down By the Riverside
Preservation Hall Jazz Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Down by the river
The Lord is on the giving hand
Down by the riverside
Oh, we'll wait till Jesus comes
Down by the river
Oh, we'll wait till Jesus comes
Oh, we are pilgrims here below
Down by the river
Oh, soon to glory we will go
Down by the riverside
Oh, we'll wait till Jesus comes
Down by the river
Oh, we'll wait till Jesus comes
Down by the riverside
The lyrics to Preservation Hall Jazz Band's song "Down By the Riverside" are deeply spiritual and call to mind a sense of harmony and community. The opening verse is a call to rejoice in the Lord, with the singer exalting "hallelujah to the lamb" that is the savior of humanity. The location of the song is the riverbank, which is evocative of a time when many people used to come together to be baptized in natural water sources. The river is seen as a source of divine grace, with the Lord depicted as being "on the giving hand". The second verse speaks directly to Jesus, with the faithful waiting for his return. The refrain "we'll wait till Jesus comes" is repeated twice, which emphasizes the importance of patience and trust in the divine plan.
The last verse is a reminder that we are all just passing through this physical world and are on a journey towards eternal glory. The theme of pilgrimage is particularly relevant, as it implies a sense of purpose and direction that is guided by spiritual beliefs. The river is the perfect location for such a pilgrimage, as it is a natural symbol of the passage of time and the journey towards the unknown. The song's message is one of hope, faith, and perseverance in the face of adversity. It invites listeners to come together and find strength in community, united by their shared belief in a greater good.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, hallelujah to the lamb
Praising and giving thanks to Jesus Christ, who is represented as the sacrificial lamb in the Bible.
Down by the river
Referring to the location where the singer is physically located while singing.
The Lord is on the giving hand
Suggesting that God is always willing to provide blessings and guidance to those who seek them.
Down by the riverside
Emphasizing the physical location of the artist as well as providing a rhythmic repetition that is common in gospel music.
Oh, we'll wait till Jesus comes
Expressing a belief that Jesus Christ will one day return to Earth and bring about a new era of peace and justice.
Oh, we are pilgrims here below
Describing the singer and their community as spiritual wanderers on Earth, waiting for a divine destination to be reached.
Oh, soon to glory we will go
Suggesting that the singer and their community will one day achieve spiritual enlightenment and be rewarded with eternal glory in the afterlife.
Down by the river
Once again emphasizing the physical location of the artist and providing a rhythmic repetition in the lyrics.
Oh, we'll wait till Jesus comes
Repeating the refrain as a way of reinforcing the central message of the song: that faith and patience will ultimately lead to redemption and salvation.
Down by the riverside
Closing out the song with a final repetition of the refrain and emphasizing the importance of place and community in religious practice.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: TRADITIONAL, TERRY RENDALL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
L.V the Truth
on Rattlin' Bones
The lyrics of Preservation Hall Jazz Band's "Rattlin' Bones" is a spooky tale about the supernatural phenomena that takes place in St. Josephine, a part of New Orleans. The opening lines of the song act as a warning to those who might wish to visit the place as it is plagued with rattling bones that make a frightening sound. The singer suggests that the sound is not coming from any ordinary source, but from the bones of the dead who have risen from the grave and started walking around.
As the song progresses, the singer presents himself as a witness to the terrifying events that take place in the graveyard. He admits that initially, he did not believe in the stories about the rattling bones. However, after spending a night in the cemetery out of a dare, he saw the horrifying sight of the dead rising from their graves. The chorus is an ominous warning to those who might venture near the St. Josephine graveyard, with the rattling bones creeping up behind the headstones, effectively sealing the fate of any curious visitors.
Edit: Others argue that a deeper meaning hides between the lines. It has been said that homosexuality was a heavy taboo around the turn of the century. Evidence shows that the occasional (sexual) encounter was not uncommon in graveyards, at night. Many young men sought hidden corners of the city so they could get their "bones rattled." Hotels were reserved for "Socially Acceptable" Folks. So if you didn't want to see anyone's bones getting rattled, it's best to visit a graveyard during appropriate visiting hours.