Song Premiere: Preservation Hall Jazz Band, 'It Ain't My Fault'

Click to listen to Presevation Jazz Hall Band's 'It Ain't My Fault,'  featuring Yasiin Bey (a.k.a. Mos Def), Trombone Shorty, Allen Toussaint

Preservation Hall Jazz Band shines like a beacon of New Orleans jazz, celebrating the unique artistic culture and music form of the Crescent City. On "It Ain't My Fault," the band gets assists from Yasiin Bey (formerly known as Mos Def), Allen Toussaint and Trombone Shorty, all of whom joined Preservation Hall Jazz Band onstage at Carnegie Hall in January.

Already hampered by Hurricane Katrina in 2007, the BP Deepwater Horizon spill in 2010 further strained Louisiana communities. Discussing the events over text messages with Bey, Preservation Hall creative director and tuba player Ben Jaffe reflected on the disasters with new focus. Soon enough, the band found itself in the recording studio with Bey, Lenny Kravitz, Trombone Shorty and Tim Robbins. Everything else fell into place. "We all figured out an arrangement. Our drummer Joe and Yasiin got tight on the rhythm. Lenny picked out a funky guitar line. Shorty and Pres Hall did what we do, what we've been doing for a long time," says Jaffe. "Yasiin's words are brilliant. I love that it's a protest song that makes people dance. Those are the best kind."

This version of "It Ain't My Fault" will be on St. Peter and 57th Street, set for a September 25th release. To help celebrate 50th anniversary of the iconic jazz room, Preservation Hall will also release the 4-CD The Preservation Hall 50th Anniversary Box Set on September 25th.