Braff was a wonderfully characterful and melodic player with an immediately identifiable sound and unique tone on the cornet, an uncommon instrument in post-war jazz. He style was fundamentally based on that of earlier players including Louis Armstrong, Bobby Hackett and Bunny Berigan but he transcended these influences to always sounds fresh, sparky and somehow modern.
He was born in Boston and began playing in local clubs in the 1940s. In 1949, he was hired to play with the Edmond Hall Orchestra. He relocated to New York in 1953 where he was much in demand for band dates and recordings.
He died February 10, 2003, in Chatham, Massachusetts.
"Sure, they’ve made statements about my supposedly combining a modern approach with a feeling for traditional forms. Well, people say all sorts of things, because they want to categorise and label. I’ve only ever had two labels. Either it’s good or it stinks." - Ruby Braff speaking in 1968
Basin Street Blues
Ruby Braff Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
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
The lyrics in Basin Street Blues, a song popularized by jazz trumpeter Ruby Braff, is a nostalgic call for a trip down the Mississippi River to New Orleans. The lyrics encapsulate the hopefulness and the joyous anticipation of visiting a city known for its rich culture and music. The trip is not just a physical journey but also an emotional one to a place of dreams and freedom.
The lyrics bring the listener to the heart of New Orleans- Basin Street. The street is where the finest folks in the city come to meet, and it is believed to be a piece of heaven on earth- a place where people can be themselves and forget their troubles. Through the lyrics, Braff paints a picture of a place filled with friendly, welcoming people- a place where the blues lose their grip, and happiness reigns supreme.
In essence, the lyrics of the song evoke feelings of wanderlust, adventure, and a thirst for new experiences. They celebrate the unique culture of New Orleans and provide a glimpse into why the city still holds a special place in the heart of music lovers worldwide.
Line by Line Meaning
Won't you come along with me
Join me on a journey
To the Mississippi
Head towards the Mississippi River
We'll take a boat to the land of dreams
Travel by boat to a place of imagination
Steam down the river, down to New Orleans
Move smoothly down the river to the city of New Orleans
The band's there to meet us
Musicians are present to welcome us
Old friends there to greet us
Friends from the past are waiting to receive us
Where all the proud and elite folks meet
Where high-status and wealthy people gather
Heaven on earth, they call it Basin Street
Basin Street is a heavenly place
Basin Street is the street
Basin Street is a particular road
Where the best folks always meet
Where the most excellent people frequently gather
In New Orleans, land of dreams
In the city of New Orleans, an imaginative place
You'll never know how nice it seems,
You won't be able to appreciate its beauty enough
Or just how much it really means
Or the extent of its significance
Glad to be, oh yes-sirree
Happy to be there
Where welcome's free and dear to me
Where hospitality is abundant
Where I can lose, lose my Basin Street Blues
Where I can forget my troubles
Basin Street, oh Basin Street
Basin Street, a beloved place
Is the street, mama
Is a road, a place of importance
New Orleans, land of dreams
New Orleans, an imaginative place
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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