Lionel Ferbos, RIP

[jeffcrom]

New Orleans trumpeter Lionel Ferbos died today at the age of 103 (!). He was (this is my opinion only) perhaps the last living representative of the old "downtown"/Creole style of New Orleans jazz - smoother and more melodic than the rougher, more blues-based "uptown" style. (Think Jimmie Noone as opposed to Johnny Dodds.)

For years, Ferbos had a regular weekly gig at the Palm Court Cafe on Decatur St. I was lucky enough to hear him there several times, and always enjoyed his straightforward, Peter Bocage-like playing. There was a sense (to this listener, anyway) of hearing aural glimpses from a lost world - hearing something that would be completely gone once Ferbos passed.

And now he has. He last played this past March. Here's the Times/Picayune obituary.

I'll bet the funeral will be amazing.

Edited July 20, 2014 by jeffcrom

[jeffcrom]

New Orleans artist Emilie Rhys drew this at Lionel Ferbos' last gig, on March 30, 2014.

This is really the end of an era. A link has been broken. One more part of the story now exists only on recordings.

[jeffcrom]

Some liner notes just reminded me that Ferbos studied trumpet with the legendary Manuel Perez - another amazing link to the very beginnings of jazz.

[ghost of miles]

Thanks for posting this, jeffcrom.

[AllenLowe]

very interesting; any recordings?

[CJ Shearn]

I gotta check this out

[jeffcrom]

very interesting; any recordings?

I gotta check this out

As far as I know, Ferbos didn't record until 1963 - Music From the Melody Inn by the "Mighty 4" on Jazzology. Nice New Orleans dance music; Harold Dejan of the Olympia Brass Band is the other horn. It has been reissued on CD by the Jazzology group, I think with extra material. (I have the LP.)

Starting in the 1960s, Ferbos was a member of the New Orleans Ragtime Orchestra, and appears on quite a few albums by them. He's strictly reading parts with that group - but of course, he doesn't sound like a classical player would sound reading those same parts.

Of the later "jazz" recordings, I think At the Jazz Band Ball on 504 is probably the best. I also like Lars Edegran presents Lionel Ferbos & John Robichaux on GHB and Jambalaya by the New Orleans Jazz Wizards on 504. There's a GHB album with Evan Christopher on clarinet that I haven't heard, but I love Evan Christopher, so I'm going to order it with my next Jazzology order.

There's an album pairing 90-year-old Ferbos with 17-year-old Trombone Shorty, on the Wise and Barking label. No matter how cool that sounds, avoid it - it's not a credit to anyone involved.

Be warned that nothing on any of these albums may knock your socks off. This is all gentle, Creole-style New Orleans dance music. Ferbos sticks close to the melody almost all the time. I can't even say for sure whether or not Lionel considered himself a "jazz" musician. If the idea of old-fashioned Creole dance hall music with a trumpeter playing a lyrical lead (probably much as he learned from Manuel Perez) appeals to you, check out the albums I recommend above.

Edited July 22, 2014 by jeffcrom

[jeffcrom]

In the post above, I said that the 1963 album by the Mighty 4 was on GHB. It's actually on Jazzology - the name of the Jazzology LP is Music from the Melody Inn by the "Mighty 4." (I corrected the original post.) The CD reissue is Dancing at the Melody Inn on American Music. Listening to this again reminds me that this is Ferbos' "hottest" recording, although he is still more restrained than Harold Dejan's rough alto playing.

[CJ Shearn]

Thanks Jeff. Not sure if that idea appeals to me as much of pretty straight to the melody, but then again I'm not looking for something there that isn't. I watched this interesting to hear several more years vocabulary added in the sax and guitar solos into the mix.

Edited July 22, 2014 by CJ Shearn

[MomsMobley]

For the last few years at least Phil Schaap has been soliciting birthday cards for Lionel, extolling his spirit, background etc, noting that's all he wants & giving his home address in N.O. I believe Lionel's eyesight failed or was failing & this year (earlier?) the cards had to be read to Lionel but nonetheless... At least a few hundred arrived this year.

Edited July 22, 2014 by MomsMobley