Spencer Williams wrote this classic piece of New Orleans in 1926 and it was been a beloved Jazz Standard ever since. Not only is it a story about carefree fun in the Cresent City, but has undertones of the struggle of Black Americans to find their place in the society of the day. The original line of ‘Basin Street — where the light and dark folk meet’ has grown to be replaced with more modern lyrics but it harkens back to a place where Black Americans could let their cares go and be ‘where the welcome’s free and dear to me’. Louis Prima, in his characteristic Jump Blues style recorded this one in a medley with ‘When It’s Sleepy Time Down South’. We’ve given a nod to Prima’s bouncy Swing with this bluesy, brassy and fun arrangement of the classic — Basin Street Blues. Give it a go — you won’t be sorry!
Basin Street Blues (PepperHorn Standards) Big Band
