Bman's Blues Report

Joe Robichaux (birth name Joseph Robichaux, March 8, 1900, New Orleans – January 17, 1965, New Orleans) was an American jazz pianist. He was the nephew of John Robichaux. Joe Robichaux played piano from a young age and studied at New Orleans University. After working in the O.J. Beatty Carnival, he played with Tig Chambers briefly in 1918. He then returned to New Orleans and played with Oscar Celestin, Earl Humphrey, Lee Collins, and The Black Eagles (1922-23). He arranged for the Jones-Collins Astoria Hot Eight in 1929 and also recorded with them; he also accompanied Christina Gray on record that year. In 1931 he formed his own ensemble, which featured Eugene Ware on trumpet, Alfred Guichard on clarinet and alto saxophone, Gene Porter on tenor sax, and Ward Crosby on drums; they went to New York City to record for Vocalion in August 1933, laying down 22 stomping, uptempo sides and two alternate takes in a marathon 5 day recording schedule. Problems with the musicians' union in...

George Lewis (13 July 1900 – 31 December 1968) was an American jazz clarinetist who achieved his greatest fame and influence in the later decades of his life. Lewis was born Joseph Louis Francois Zenon, in the French Quarter of New Orleans, Louisiana. Lewis' great-great grandmother by his mother, Alice Zeno, was a Senegalese slave who was brought over to Louisana around 1803. Zeno's family retained some knowledge of Senegalese language and customs until Alice's generation Lewis was playing clarinet professionally by 1917, at the age of seventeen, working with Buddy Petit and Chris Kelly regularly as well as the trombonist Kid Ory and other leaders. At this time, he seldom traveled far from the greater New Orleans area. During the Great Depression he took a job as a stevedore, continuing to take as many music jobs after hours as he could find, a schedule that often meant he got very little sleep. In 1942, when a group of New Orleans jazz enthusiasts, including jazz histor...

This old favourite about the delights of reefer smoking is given the New Orleans treatment by Herb Morand tpt and Albert Burbank clt, with Jim Robinson tbn, Lawrence Marrero bjo, Alcide Pavageau and white drummer Bill Matthews. Recorded at a private party in 1949 it's given a real earthy flavour thanks to some fine Burbank clarinet and Morand's vocal ( he sounds as if he's on it).George Lewis (13 July 1900 – 31 December 1968) was an American jazz clarinetist who achieved his greatest fame and influence in the later decades of his life. Herb Morand (1905 - February 23, 1952) was an American jazz trumpeter associated with the New Orleans jazz scene. Albert Burbank (March 25, 1902—August 15, 1976) was an American dixieland clarinet player. Born in New Orleans Albert Burbank was taught clarinet by Lorenzo Tio, one of that cities most famous clarinet players. He stayed in the New Orleans area throughout the 1920s playing wherever his services were needed. During the thirties, he...