Preservation Hall Jazz Band Releases New Version of Inspiring Single

Preservation Hall Jazz Band’s “Keep Your Head Up,” is a spirited tune and a standout from the group’s acclaimed A Tuba To Cuba documentary and soundtrack. The song was released in the spring of last year; Cuban singer Eme Alfonso appears on the album version and in the official video. Preservation Hall has also released an updated version with rapper Pell. 

Last month as a “Stay at Home” order was declared in Louisiana, a state that’s been hit particularly hard by COVID-19, Preservation Hall Jazz Band’s Ben Jaffe began performing the track every evening from his New Orleans home (and filming it on Instagram Live). He’s been encouraging his neighbors and friends to participate by opening windows, hanging on their porches, in their backyards and on their decks to make musical sounds and rhythms with pots, pans, instruments and their voices to provide a “daily, uplifting, five-minute break from everything.”

“We couldn’t be more grateful to have a dear friend as talented and kind as Pell lend his spirit and voice to our song,” Jaffe says of Pell’s contribution to the track in a press release.

“This song is more important than ever in reminding us to enjoy every day, despite how much uncertainty and adversity this global tragedy has brought upon us,” says Pell.

“Stay safe, inside, and keep your head up high. Love.”

Pell

Additionally, late last week, the Preservation Hall Foundation launched the Legacy Emergency Relief Fund to provide grants to the Hall’s Musical Collective to help with vital living expenses resulting from loss of work due to the Coronavirus. 

Jaffe, who is also Preservation Hall Foundation’s creative director, had this to say, “The doors at Preservation Hall are closed for the foreseeable future and our 60-member Musical Collective is facing great uncertainty. We’re focusing all of our attention towards caring for our musicians in helping them weather the crisis.”

The Preservation Hall Jazz Band performs over 1,500 concerts at Preservation Hall, serves over 30,000 students through numerous education and community engagement activities, and performs globally at major music festivals, theatres and performing arts centers.

Photo: Chris Swainston