New Orleans Jazz Musicians chronology

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Chronology of New Orleans' jazz musicians

What follows is a list of key jazz musicians born in New Orleans during the first four generations of the music's history and a small selection of the best young musicians playing in the city today. Jazz began in the late 1800s in New Orleans, but the great migration North to Chicago and New York began in earnest in the early 1920s, about the time the final musicians in this list were reaching adulthood. Even this list only scrapes the surface of New Orleans jazz, there were many more musicians working in New Orleans who were never recorded and thus are not widely known outside the memories of those who played with them. You can also use this list as a guide to musicians to look out for on CD in combination with our Jazz Listening Guide.

First Generation

Fourth Generation

Buddy Bolden 1868-1931 (trumpet)

Credited as the first jazz trumpeter, Bolden had a huge influence on numerous early jazz musicians. Bolden was renowned for his volume and tone. He worked all over the city including New Orleans' red light district Storyville. The original Funky Butt Hall was nick-named after Bolden's signature tune. Some say the heavy-drinking Bolden blew his brains out through his trumpet: he spent the last 24 years of his life in a Louisiana insane asylum.

Papa Jack Laine 1873-1966 (drums)

New Orleans jazz band leader who, unfortunately, never recorded. Laine led the Reliance dance bands in the early 1900s.

Manuel Perez 1873-1946 (cornet)

Band leader who was active around Storyville and went on to lead the Imperial Orchestra and play in the Onward Brass Band. Much admired by Sydney Bechet. Died of a stroke.

Willie Cornish 1875-1942 (trombone)

One of the early brass players, Cornish played in Buddy Bolden's band and was also an important music teacher to younger jazz musicians. Also a member of the Eureka Brass Band.

Alphonse Picou 1878-1961 (clarinet)

Credited with developing the famous obbligato in the New Orleans march High Society, Picou was one of the earliest great jazz clarinetists and remained active in the New Orleans music scene until his death in the 1960s.

Frankie Dusen 1880-1940 (trombone)

Played in Buddy Bolden's band and became its leader when Bolden went insane.

Second Generation

Wooden Joe Nicholas 1883-1957 (clarinet, trumpet)

Active as a clarinettist in Storyville, and played with King Oliver in 1915. Later switched to trumpet. Organised the Camelia Dance Band. Wooden Joe was the uncle of great clarinettist Albert Nicholas.

George Bacquet 1883-1949 (clarinet)

Played with Buddy Bolden, Onward Brass Band and Imperial Orchestra. Recorded with Jelly Roll Morton and His Orchestra in the late 1920s.

Lorenzo Tio Jnr 1884-1933 (clarinet, cornet)

Classically trained creole jazz clarinettist who acted as teacher to pretty much all of the great New Orleans clarinet players that followed, including: Sydney Bechet, Omer Simeon, Johnny Dodds, Barney Bigard, Jimmie Noone, Albert Nicholas and Louis Cottrell. Played in the Onward Brass Band and the Original Tuxedo Orchestra.

Oscar 'Papa' Celestin 1884-1954 (cornet)

Began career with Algiers Brass Band. Organised the Original Tuxedo Orchestra in 1910 that, along with Sam Morgan, was one of only two black bands recorded in New Orleans during the 1920s.

Joe 'King' Oliver 1885-1938 (trumpet)

Oliver played with numerous early New Orleans brass bands including the Eagle Band, the Original Superior Orchestra and the Allen Brass Band. Was active as a band leader and player in Storyville, mainly at Pete Lala's. Oliver earned the title 'King' thanks to his pioneering trumpet playing, power and tone. He was Louis Armstrong's idol and took the young trumpeter under his wing, ultimately calling him to Chicago to join his band in the early 20s where they wooed audiences with coordinated double trumpet breaks. Fell on hard times in the 30s and died in poverty.

Big Eye Louis Nelson 1885-1949 (clarinet, Banjo, Bass)

Multi-instrumental Nelson, real name Delisle Louis Nelson, played in Storyville from the age of 15 and remained active in music until the 1940s.

Edward 'Kid' Ory 1886-1973 (trombone)

One of the best known New Orleans jazz greats, Ory was active in Storyville and played at Pete Lala's in the early 1900s. Louis Armstrong remembers the Ory band advertising their gigs from the back of a moving truck (a common practice in the early days of jazz). Left New Orleans in 1919 but was important figure in the New Orleans revival of the 1940s. Recorded with Armstrong and Oliver.

Peter Bocage 1887-1967 (cornet)

Worked as a professional musician from the age of nine. Played with a who's who of New Orleans Brass bands including Original Superior Orchestra, Original Tuxedo Orchestra, Onward Brass Band. Worked with King Oliver in Storyville at Pete Lala's. Also played on the river boats with Fate Marable.

Arnaud Piron 1888-1943 (violin)

Active with numerous New Orleans jazz bands from 1910 onwards. Most famous as co-founder of the Williams-Piron Music Publishing Company (with Clarence Williams). Composed many early jazz standards.

Freddy Keppard 1889-1933 (trumpet)

The man who turned town the chance to record the first ever 'jazz' record, Keppard was renowned for his paranoid fear that other musicians would steal his ideas. Keppard often played with a cloth covering his fingers to hide his tricks. Nonetheless, Keppard was renowned as a hugely powerful trumpet player. Active in Storyville at Tom Anderson's Saloon, which stood on Basin Street. Great friend of Jelly Roll Morton.

Bunk Johnson 1889-1949 (trumpet)

One of the pioneers of the New Orleans revival, Johnson was plucked from obscurity on a Louisiana chicken farm in the 1940s by record executives looking to record surviving early jazz pioneers. Fitted with new teeth and a new trumpet, Bunk formed his Superior Jazz Band with George Lewis and Jim Robinson and made one of the first recordings of the revival that was to last a decade.

Nick LaRocca 1889-1961 (trumpet)

Leader of the Original Dixieland Jazz Band, the group that in the 1920s made the first recordings to use the term 'Jazz'. Heavily influenced by the sounds of Storyville where he and other members of the band hung out as kids.

Jelly Roll Morton 1890-1941 (piano)

Not, as he claimed, the inventor of jazz, but the first to write down and notate jazz compositions. Morton was disowned by his proud Creole family when they discovered he was working as a piano player in a Storyville brothel. One of the most colourful characters in jazz, Morton was an occasional pimp, hustler and professional pool shark. Before his death Morton made historical recordings on the history of jazz for the US Library of Congress. Health declined after being stabbed in a Chicago bar by a jealous husband, fell on hard times and died in Los Angeles. Morton's Real name was Ferdinand Joseph La Menthe.

Fate Marable 1890-1947 (piano)

Important because he led a 'reading orchestra' on the New Orleans paddle steamers in which many jazz greats served an apprenticeship, including a young Louis Armstrong and Johnny and Baby Dodds.

Johnny St Cyr 1890-1966 (banjo, guitar)

A plasterer by trade, St Cyr played with some of the key early New Orleans bands including Jelly Roll Morton's Red Hot Peppers and Louis Armstrong's Hot Fives and Hot Sevens. Also played a key role in the New Orleans revival of the 1940s.

Third Generation

hird Generation

Jim Robinson 1892-1976 (trombone)

Learned trombone in the army, joined Sam Morgan's band in the 1920s. Later played with George Lewis and was part of Bunk Johnson's Superior Band, the group that kicked off the 1940's New Orleans revival.

Johnny Dodds 1892-1940 (clarinet)

Distinctive clarinet player who played in New Orleans with King Oliver and left with him to conquer Chicago in 1920. Played frequently with Louis Armstrong and was central to the early recordings of Oliver's Creole Jazz Band and Louis Armstrong's Hot Fives and Hot Sevens. Later ran a cab company in Chicago with brother 'Baby'.

Larry Shields 1893-1953 (clarinet)

Clarinet player with the Original Dixieland Jazz Band. Composer of Clarinet Marmalade.

Honore Dutrey 1894-1935 (trombone)

Played with a number of New Orleans brass bands before moving to Chicago where he played with King Oliver in the early 1920s. Played with Louis Armstrong in the latter part of the 20s.

Sam Morgan 1895-1936 (cornet)

One of the few New Orleans musicians actually recorded in the city during the 1920's (only 25 sides were cut during the entire decade!), Morgan's recordings demonstrate the early New Orleans ensemble style of playing that has now all but vanished. Suffered a stroke at age 30 and died on Mardi Gras day eleven years later.

Omer Simeon 1895-1930 (clarinet)

Jelly Roll Morton's favourite clarinettist. Appears on a number of Morton's Red Hot Peppers recordings. Extremely fluent, technically excellent and distinctive playing style. Also played with Oliver in Chicago.

Jimmy Noone 1895-1944 (clarinet)

Storyville clarinettist who played with trumpeter Freddie Keppard, his brother in law. Also played in Storyville with Kid Ory and Papa Celestin. Critisised for his 'sweet' style of playing in later years.

Sidney Bechet 1897-1959 (clarinet, soprano saxophone)

Began on clarinet in Storyville playing with King Oliver at Pete Lala's bar. Best known for the soprano sax. Single-handedly responsible for bringing the instrument into jazz, he acquired his first soprano while touring in London. Impossibly accomplished player with lightning fingering and accuracy. Lived the last years of his life in Paris.

Warren 'Baby' Dodds 1898-1959 (drums)

Younger brother of clarinettist Johnny, Baby Dodds played alongside his older sibling in many of the most important early Jazz bands, including King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band and the early Louis Armstrong-led Hot Fives and Hot Sevens.

Kid Rena 1898-1949 (trumpet)

A fellow inmate (with Louis Armstrong) of the Coloured Waifs' Home for Boys. Active in New Orleans throughout the 1920s.

George Lewis 1900-1968 (clarinet)

A jobbing musician throughout the 1920s in New Orleans, achieved great fame with the Bunk Johnson revival band of the 1940s after which his career took off. Played extensively in Europe.

Wingy Manone 1900-1982 (trumpet)

One-armed 'Wingy' Manone lost his arm in a Street Car accident as a child. Played Kazoo in New Orleans bands later playing trumpet.

Paul Mares 1900-1949 (trumpet)

Leader of the New Orleans Rhythm Kings, a hugely influential early band.

Louis Armstrong 1901-1971 (cornet, trumpet)

Grew up in one of the roughest neighborhoods in New Orleans. Delivered coal and ice to Storyville brothels as a child. Learned trumpet in the Coloured Waifs' Home for Boys where he was locked up 'indefinitely' after firing a pistol in the air on New Year's Eve. Married a prostitute and remained in New Orleans until 1921. A musical genius with no equal, Armstrong is credited with bringing the instrumental solo to the forefront of jazz and with the development of scat singing. Played with his idol King Oliver in Chicago in the 1920s before forming his own bands on insistence of second Wife Lil Harding Armstrong (pianist in the Oliver band). Went on to become the single most important figure in jazz history.

Louis Nelson 1902-1990 (trombone)

Played with the Original Tuxedo Orchestra and Kid Rena. A regular at New Orleans' famous Preservation Hall throughout the 60s.

Albert Nicholas 1902-1973 (clarinet)

Played with many of the greats including Oliver, Armstrong and Morton. A jazz ambassador who traveled extensively in Europe, Asia the Middle East and Africa during the late 1920s. Returned to record with both Louis Armstrong and Jelly Roll Morton.

George Brunies 1902-1974 (trombone)

Founder member of the New Orleans Rhythm Kings.

Raymond Burke 1904-1986 (clarinet)

Lesser known New Orleans' Creole clarinettist who stayed close to New Orleans all his life and later ran a small curiosity shop on Bourbon Street. A fantastic self-taught clarinettist with a full and unique tone. Burke's limited recordings are available on the American Music label.

Albany Leon 'Barney' Bigard 1906-1980 (clarinet)

Best known as the clarinettist with Duke Ellington in the late 1920s. Previously played with King Oliver. In later life was a member of the Louis Armstrong All Stars.

Louis Cottrell (1911-1978)

Exciting but rarely rercorded clarinettist. Played with Young Tuxedo Orchestra in late 20s and with A.J Piron and Jim Robinson. Father was a well known jazz drummer of the same name.

Irving Fazola 1912-1949 (clarinet)

Played with a host of latter-day jazz stars including Glen Miller, Bob Crosby and Muggsy Spanier. Also recorded with Billie Holiday. Real name Irving Prestopnik.

Modern Day

Pete Fountain 1930- (clarinet)

The city's best known living clarinet player, Fountain is still going strong playing regularly at his own jazz club on the third floor of the New Orleans Hilton.

Troy 'Trombone Shorty' Andrews (trombone, trumpet, drums)

The magnificent Trombone Shorty is so good it makes you sick. If you get the chance then don't miss this great young brass player from the famously dangerous Treme neighborhood of New Orleans (home to many early jazz greats and location of Storyville). Comparisons with Louis Armstrong are inevitable, but quite possibly justified.

Ryan Burrage 1974- (clarinet)

Exciting, fluent jazz clarinetist bringing some of the hottest jazz to New Orleans' French Quarter. Leads the house band at Fritzels Jazz Pub.

Wynton Marsalis 1961- (trumpet)

New Orleans's most famous living trumpet player. Currently Artistic Director of Jazz at the Lincoln Center. Hails from a musical family of six brothers.

Evan Christopher (clarinet)

New Orleans-based clarinettist originally from Long Beach, California. Extremely fluent player with a traditional sound. Plays an Albert System clarinet.