Paul Barbarin

One of the top New Orleans drummers, Paul Barbarin was also quite significant as both a bandleader (his groups almost always boasted high musicianship) and as a composer (he wrote "Bourbon Street Parade" and "The Second Line"). Part of a large musical family, <a href="spotify:artist:4HCwj3Nt6DTTmJCpHuQOeM">Paul</a>'s father Isadore played brass instruments; three of his brothers were musicians (including Louis, who was also a fine drummer), and his nephew was banjoist <a href="spotify:artist:3JEWhsY5qK96eYyOVt0O3f">Danny Barker</a>. <a href="spotify:artist:4HCwj3Nt6DTTmJCpHuQOeM">Paul</a> started on clarinet before saving up enough money to buy a set of drums. He played in many important New Orleans groups, including the Silver Leaf Orchestra and the Young Olympia Band, and early on developed a basic, straightforward style that was perfectly suitable for both parades and dances; the press roll was his specialty. In 1917, Barbarin moved to Chicago, playing with local groups (including some that he led) and with <a href="spotify:artist:0y247K7t0JULOQuGx17ZFJ">Freddie Keppard</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:2o0ypB7FfdIX9xnjSeAKi6">Jimmie Noone</a>. From 1923-1924, he returned to New Orleans, where he performed with the <a href="spotify:artist:1OwRWYy0edtEPGgHkAQraD">Onward</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:7daT6NP9Cb8j14TIN3Fnpf">Excelsior</a> bands, before moving back to Chicago late in 1924 to join <a href="spotify:artist:24PJRbYtu3Cq5CuF24c1QZ">King Oliver</a> (1925-1927). After more time back in New Orleans, Barbarin relocated to New York in 1928, where he joined <a href="spotify:artist:2QYQ1OaqqulNz8o2c80ViP">Luis Russell</a>'s notable band, staying until 1932 and anchoring one of the top jazz groups of the era. After leaving <a href="spotify:artist:4M4hr3Yx8ArpST0G9zCRzH">Russell</a>, Barbarin freelanced in both New York and New Orleans and then rejoined <a href="spotify:artist:4M4hr3Yx8ArpST0G9zCRzH">Russell</a> in 1935, staying with the pianist when the orchestra became <a href="spotify:artist:19eLuQmk9aCobbVDHc6eek">Louis Armstrong</a>'s backup band. In 1938 he left to lead his own group in New Orleans, and after a short stint back with <a href="spotify:artist:04kWWhnACFsQZlReaxSqsc">Armstrong</a> in 1941, he became a member of Red Allen's sextet (1942-1943). Other than a period with <a href="spotify:artist:1RsmXc1ZqW3WBs9iwxiSwk">Sidney Bechet</a> in 1944 and some work with <a href="spotify:artist:7B2GLsoPPGTRUeNpJ6VbL3">Art Hodes</a> in Chicago (1953), Barbarin mostly led his own bands from this point on (including <a href="spotify:artist:1OwRWYy0edtEPGgHkAQraD">the Onward Brass Band</a>, which he founded in 1955), staying based in his hometown. It was somehow fitting that, when he passed away, it was while taking part in a New Orleans street parade. Through the years, Paul Barbarin recorded with <a href="spotify:artist:24PJRbYtu3Cq5CuF24c1QZ">King Oliver</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:2QYQ1OaqqulNz8o2c80ViP">Luis Russell</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:4XepUkisa56DUeA3gbjDQD">Jelly Roll Morton</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:19eLuQmk9aCobbVDHc6eek">Louis Armstrong</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:1RsmXc1ZqW3WBs9iwxiSwk">Sidney Bechet</a>, in addition to leading many sessions of his own (starting in 1950) for 504, Circle, GHB, Jazztone, Atlantic, Good Time Jazz, Southland, and Nobility. ~ Scott Yanow, Rovi