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
Short Dressed Gal
Preservation Hall Jazz Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I knew a little girl
Her name was (Bee)
She'd flirt with every man
That she did see
She'd flirt with a man
Called Mr Key
She had a dress measured
She went to the river
She couldn't get across,
She paid five dollars
For an old (grey) horse.
The horse wouldn't pull
She swapped it for a bull
All she could hear
The boys was sayin'
Won't you lower it babe
Everybody's lookin'
Lower it babe
Everyone can see
Won't you lower it babe
Everybody's lookin'
Short dress, no mo' style
I knew a little girl
Her name was (Bee)
She'd flirt with every man
That she did see
She'd flirt with a man
Called Mr Key
She had a dress measured
To her knee.
She went to the river
She couldn't get across,
She paid five dollars
For an old (grey) horse.
The horse wouldn't pull
She swapped it for a bull
All she could hear
The boys was sayin'
Won't you lower it babe
Everybody's lookin'
Lower it babe
Everyone can see
Won't you lower it babe
Everybody's lookin'
Short dress, no mo' style
Preservation Hall Jazz Band's song "Short Dressed Gal" is a lively, upbeat tune that tells the story of a woman named "Bee" who is known for her flirtatious ways. The lyrics detail Bee's penchant for flirting with every man she sees, including a man named Mr. Key. The song also references Bee's attire, specifically a dress that is measured to her knee.
The next verse describes Bee's attempt to cross a river, which proves difficult. She pays five dollars for an old grey horse, but the horse won't pull her across the river. In a bold move, Bee decides to trade the horse for a bull. As Bee makes her way with the bull, the boys around her call out for her to lower her dress. They make comments like "Everybody's lookin'," and "Everyone can see," as Bee continues to strut her stuff.
The lyrics to "Short Dressed Gal" draw a vivid picture of a woman who is confident and unafraid to show off her body. The song celebrates feminine freedom and encourages women to be bold in their choices. Overall, the song is a fun and lively tune that showcases Preservation Hall Jazz Band's unique sound and the enduring appeal of New Orleans-style jazz.
Line by Line Meaning
I knew a little girl
The storyteller introduces the subject of the song
Her name was (Bee)
The girl's name is Bee, though this may not be her real name
She'd flirt with every man
Bee was a flirtatious person, who liked to engage with men
That she did see
She would flirt with any man who she came across
She'd flirt with a man
Bee was attracted to a specific man
Called Mr Key
This man's name was Mr Key
She had a dress measured
Bee had a new dress tailored to fit her
To her knee.
The dress was specifically measured to be knee-length
She went to the river
Bee went to the river, for an unknown reason
She couldn't get across,
Bee was unable to cross the river by herself
She paid five dollars
Bee decided to pay $5 for something
For an old (grey) horse.
She paid $5 to buy an old and likely worn-out horse
The horse wouldn't pull
The horse didn't want to move or work
She swapped it for a bull
Bee traded the horse for a bull
All she could hear
Bee could hear what people around her were saying
The boys was sayin'
Specifically, the male onlookers around her were saying
Won't you lower it babe
The boys were asking her to adjust or make changes to her attire
Everybody's lookin'
Everyone around her was staring at or taking notice of her
Lower it babe
The boys continued to ask her to adjust her dress
Everyone can see
Her attire was drawing attention from all around her
Short dress, no mo' style
Her dress, the source of attention, was considered out of fashion
Writer(s): traditional
Contributed by Parker Y. 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.