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
Georgia on My Mind
Preservation Hall Jazz Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There's that old sweet song that keeps you Georgia, on my mind
Oh Georgia, hmm Georgia, the song of you
Comes as sweet and clear just like moonlight through the pines
Other arms reach out for me
And other eyes have smile tenderly
But still in peaceful dreams I see
Oh hey Georgia, ooh Georgia, no peace, no peace I find
And there's still this old sweet song that keeps you, Georgia, on my mind
There's that old sweet song that keeps you, Georgia, on my mind
That keeps you, Georgia, on my mind
Preservation Hall Jazz Band's version of "Georgia On My Mind" is a soulful tribute to the state of Georgia in the United States. The song describes the singer's deep emotional connection to Georgia and how they cannot escape thoughts of the state no matter where they go. The repeated use of "Georgia, on my mind" emphasizes the singer's strong attachment to their home state.
The second verse of the song speaks to the power of memory and how the singer's dreams are filled with Georgia. Despite being in the arms of someone else or surrounded by other people, the singer is always drawn back to Georgia. This suggests that no matter how far the singer may journey from Georgia geographically, the state will always hold a special place in their heart and mind.
Overall, Preservation Hall Jazz Band's version of "Georgia On My Mind" celebrates the strong sense of identity and connection that people often feel towards their home state. Through its melodious tones and poignant lyrics, the song evokes a sense of nostalgia and longing for the familiar sights, sounds, and people of Georgia.
Line by Line Meaning
Georgia, hmm Georgia the whole day through
I think about Georgia constantly throughout the day, with its memories constantly running in my head
There's that old sweet song that keeps you Georgia, on my mind
There's a particularly sweet song that reminds me of Georgia, making me remember it more vividly.
Oh Georgia, hmm Georgia, the song of you
Georgia has a melodious tune associated with it, which makes it particularly memorable
Comes as sweet and clear just like moonlight through the pines
Georgia is so sweet and tender that it reminds me of moonlight seeping through pine trees
Other arms reach out for me
Although other people are there to comfort me, there is no one who can compare to Georgia.
And other eyes have smile tenderly
Others may try to care for me gently, but they can't compare to the warmth and love that Georgia gives me.
But still in peaceful dreams I see
Even in my dreams, Georgia comes back to me in a peaceful, tranquil way
That the road, the road leads back to you
No matter where I go, my mind always turns back to Georgia; it's as if my destiny lies solely in Georgia
Oh hey Georgia, ooh Georgia, no peace, no peace I find
Georgia occupies so much of my thoughts that I can't find any inner peace without it
And there's still this old sweet song that keeps you, Georgia, on my mind
No matter how much time passes, that sweet song will always remind me of Georgia
That keeps you, Georgia, on my mind
That song specifically reminds me of Georgia
Contributed by Eva R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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.