New Orleans jazz trumpeter Lionel Ferbos

by Rose of Sharon Witmer
New Orleans jazz trumpeter Lionel Ferbos is fast becoming the eldest statesman of his city's traditional jazz scene, and he appears to be enjoying every minute of it. Ferbos, who turned 91 in 2002, is still going strong. He attributes his long life to his wife of 68 years, Marguerite. That is about the same number of years that Ferbos has been playing jazz.

Making music may have something to do with that longevity factor too. Lionel Ferbos does not have to sit around listening to old records to learn the music of a bygone era. He was there the first time. He brings his first hand knowledge of those days to his regular gig at the Palm Court, the French Quarter mecca for traditional jazz enthusiasts.

Jazz masters Danny Barker, Pud Brown, George Lewis, and Chester Zardiswere all regulars at the Palm Court. And now it is Ferbos, with his Creole Swingers, who hold forth at the Decatur Street hot spot, thrilling the audience with tunes like "Walkin' My Baby Back Home" and "The Sobbin' Blues." Ferbos plays them the way Jelly Roll Morton said they should be played: "Soft and sweet, with plenty of rhythm."

It turns out "Pretty Baby" has enjoyed a reprise, with Louis Malle's 1978 film of the same name. Lionel Ferbos played on the soundtrack, recording with the New Orleans Ragtime Orchestra, headed by Lars Edegran.

The aggregation put out two other recordings: Grace and Beauty (1979) and Creole Belles (1994), in which they play archival music of the ragtime era.


Ferbos also appears with Edegranand his New Orleans Stompers on 5 Minutes More, along with dedicated traditional jazz musicians Freddie Lonzo, Bernie Attridge, Evan Christopher, and bandleader Lars Edegran. The jazz aficionado can catch Ferbos, along with Pud Brown, Lester Caliste, Les Muscutt, andPeter Badie, performing as the New Orleans Jazz Wizards on their CD, Jambalaya. Wizards they are.

In his tenth decade of life, Lionel Ferbos is as busy as ever. He performs at the French Quarter Festival, the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, and the Satchmo Summer Fest, where he will match other trumpeters less than half his age. He is involved in raising money to renovate the Negro Musician's Music Hall, from back when the musicians' unions were segregated. Ferbos became a member in 1932, when he played in the big bands. Ferbos recently told his story as part of the Jazz Pioneers series sponsored by the New Orleans National Jazz Park. And Lionel Ferbos has a lot to remember.

Read more: http://www.allmusic.com/artist/lionel-ferbos-mn0002288979