In honor of Gospel Music Heritage Month, former OffBeat cover star Davell Crawford — aka the Piano Prince of New Orleans — has released a music video along with his Singers. “Down by the Riverside” was filmed in New Orleans and is part of Steinway & Sons’ Music & Vision Series.

Previously covered by artists such as Louis Armstrong, Etta James, and Elvis Presley, “Down by the Riverside” dates back to the early American South and has been performed as an anti-war protest song through the years.

“The heritage of this deep spiritual, the beautiful setting of the historic church, the joyful voices of the singers, the rich tone of the Steinway—all of these elements together provided inspiration and vision as we performed ‘Down by the Riverside,’” says Crawford. “You can feel the story of the river crossing passed down through the ages, and it is tremendously meaningful to have the opportunity to interpret that story in my own New Orleans.”

Steinway presented Davell Crawford with the opportunity to do his video wherever he wanted but he had his heart set on New Orleans. Crawford presented the New York-based company with local options in everything from videography and catering.

“The song was recorded live at Hotel Peter + Paul which was the church that gifted me their old piano pre-Hurricane Katrina. I revisited the church quite some time before the video and as I walked in, I knew immediately I wanted and needed to do something there in the space. Something in honor of the space, but even more, something special and unique for our city. The grounds were still very spiritual and sacred feeling, even though it’s been turned into an event space! I could still feel the spirit in the walls and in the wood on the floor, so I thought it to be a bright idea to bring gospel and spiritual music back to that space — to feel it, hear it, see it, and experience it all kind of ways again, and I hope that comes through [in the song].”

Crawford also got a few of what he likes to call The Davell Crawford Singers together for the monumental occasion.

“Most of these singers have performed with me for years. This is a group of musicians and singers that I have admired throughout their careers. I’ve watched them all. Most of them are choral masters and musicians themselves, and I have great respect for the work they’ve done and their contributions to our city and to music. I’d like to think perhaps, they would have the same respect for me. These people are my family. “

The pianist praises the whole team and in true Louisiana fashion, talks about his special relationships to all of them.

“Minister Jackie Tolbert – I’ve known her my entire life, she’s performed all over the world her own and with me, and is literally my best friend in the entire world. Veronica (Downs-Dorsey who he still calls ‘Ma’) even in my preteens, if she needed me to come to her church, St. Monica’s, at the time to accompany the choir or be a special guest, certainly, I’d just stopped whatever I was doing in the world and show up. She’s still, ‘Ma’, and I still do it when she calls!” He continues, “Joshua Kagler, who is a firecracker of talent, is my little cousin and I played his first solo in church, in Kentwood, LA when he was about 6 years old – gosh, I was a teenager. Anthony Morgan, I’ve known him since I was 14 and we’ve been the best of friends ever since. I used to go with Lionel Hampton up to Harlem and hear Anthony and his gospel group perform in New York on Sundays at Coplands Restaurant. These people are my family! I flew a few in from New York (where he now lives) out of the 6 from New York, 3 went to school at either Dillard, Xavier, or Loyola for music.”

For Crawford there was also a spiritual calling he felt when he got in touch with Bridget Bazile, who he considers “one of the greatest voices in classical music to ever come from Louisiana.” As many know, Bazile was the lead soloist for the Moses Hogan Singers. “ I’ve known Bridget just about my whole life. Always aware of her gift, I promised her as young man, I would find a way for us to work together. Moses passed away some years ago. He was my piano teacher as a child, that also became one of my best friends and champions. I felt he was speaking to me, so I called Bridget and told her [about the project] and she didn’t hesitate to accept. She showed with her A game like she always does.”

He is grateful to what he calls a “small reunion of sorts.” Of bringing along his New York-based singers, he says, “Walking the streets of New Orleans was a good thing for them. They needed to come back! Wherever I travel in the world, I look for great musicians, great singers, and beautiful people – and let me tell you, this group of talented musicians fit the criteria – they are beautiful people and each of them mean so very much to me. It’s a personal thing! Steinway, the greatest piano in the world, married with New Orleans, the greatest city in the world, married with The Davell Crawford Singers, the greatest talents and friends in the world – gosh, what a big win-win all around!!! Listen, talent and titles are what they are, but to perform with me in any capacity, you get the gig because I like the, ‘gift of you’! I like ya! I like ya like I like my Steinways! And there’s not a damn thing you can do about it!”

As aforementioned,  Crawford recruited his longtime friend and collaborator, Veronica Downs-Dorsey. for the song and video. According to the McDonogh 35 High School Gospel Choir leader, Crawford doesn’t just ask you to do something, he tells you.

“First of all, I’ve known Davell since he was a baby…he was like a son and I knew his father. (We were neighbors as children.) Davell is so super talented – he just makes a piano talk. When he touches a piano it’s talking to you. He calls me ‘Ma’ and asked me to be in the project. He said one day I need you all day, and the next day part of the day and you’re gonna do it. And it was so wonderful singing with people all over the country – all his favorites who he has worked with.”

Downs-Dorsey, a piano specialist herself with a Masters degree in the instrument, lit up at the opportunity to play the world-renowned Steinway. “To just look at that piano and press a button and play it – it was just like being a kid in a candy store! It gave me a funny feeling – what can I say?”  the choir director of St. Peter Claver adds, with a laugh. “Davell is so talented and he makes you want to sing but when he plays that piano you really want to sing.”

Shot pre-pandemic, “Down by the Riverside” depicts a crossing of the River Jordan to reach the Promised Land.  Crawford performs on a Steinway Model D Spirio | r concert grand piano while his angelic choir sings along, bathed in sunlight. The video was directed by Christopher Haney, a local film producer and co-founder of The Greenhouse Collective.

Eric Feidner, senior VP of Music, Technology and Media at Steinway & Sons says he’s thrilled with the end result. “I am very happy we are able to release this new video, which I find to be so inspirational. It shares the generous gift of gospel music arranged and performed by Davell and his incredibly talented fellow artists. Seeing and hearing this group and the Steinway resonate in the cathedral is just so moving. I think it’s a great time to share this.”

Follow Davell Crawford on Instagram @davellcrawford