Isidore Jean "John" Barbarin (September 24, 1871 – June 12, 1960) was an American

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a major ...

cornet and alto horn player. He was a mainstay of the New Orleans jazz scene in the decades around the turn of the 20th century. Barbarin was born and died in New Orleans. He began learning

cornet The cornet (, ) is a brass instrument similar to the trumpet but distinguished from it by its conical bore, more compact shape, and mellower tone quality. The most common cornet is a transposing instrument in B, though there is also a sopr ...

at age 14, then played in various New Orleans brass bands, such as the

Onward Brass Band The Onward Brass Band was either of two brass bands active in New Orleans for extended periods of time. Onward Brass Band (c. 1886–1930) This incarnation of the Onward Brass Band played often in its early history at picnics, festivals, parades, ...

, the

Excelsior Brass Band The Excelsior Brass Band was a brass band from New Orleans active between 1879 and 1931. It was one of the earliest recognized brass bands on the New Orleans jazz scene. The Excelsior was founded in 1879 by Théogène Baquet, who led it until ...

, and

Papa Celestin Oscar Phillip Celestin (January 1, 1884 – December 15, 1954) better known by stage name Papa Celestin was an American jazz trumpeter and bandleader. Life and career Celestin was born in Napoleonville, Louisiana, to a Creole family, son of a s ...

Tuxedo Brass Band The Tuxedo Brass Band, sometimes called the Original Tuxedo Brass Band, was one of the most highly regarded brass bands of New Orleans, Louisiana in the 1910s and 1920s. It was led by Papa Celestin starting about 1910. Many noted jazz greats play ...

. He did not make it on to record until 1945, when he recorded with Bunk Johnson; in 1946 he recorded with the Original Zenith Brass Band. Isidore's sons, Paul and

Louis Louis may refer to: * Louis (coin) * Louis (given name), origin and several individuals with this name * Louis (surname) * Louis (singer), Serbian singer * HMS ''Louis'', two ships of the Royal Navy See also Derived or associated terms * Lewis (d ...

, became noted musicians in their own right. His two other sons both became professional musicians as well; Lucien Barbarin (1905–1955) was a drummer, and William Barbarin (1907–1973) played cornet. His grandson, Danny Barker, to daughter Rose (1891-1954), is also a musician.

General references

Isidore Barbarin Isidore Jean "John" Barbarin (September 24, 1871 – June 12, 1960) was an American jazz cornet and alto horn player. He was a mainstay of the Dixieland, New Orleans jazz scene in the decades around the turn of the 20th century. Barbarin was b ...

Allmusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...

*Russell/Kernfeld, "Isidore Barbarin". '' Grove Jazz'' online.

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Barbarin, Isidore 1872 births 1960 deaths American jazz horn players Jazz musicians from New Orleans Excelsior Brass Band members Tuxedo Brass Band members Onward Brass Band members