John Casimir (October 16, 1898 – January 3, 1963) 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 m ...

clarinetist This article lists notable musicians who have played the clarinet. Classical clarinetists * Laver Bariu * Ernest Ačkun * Luís Afonso * Cristiano Alves * Michel Arrignon * Dimitri Ashkenazy * Kinan Azmeh * Alexander Bader * Carl Baerma ...

and bandleader, best remembered as the leader of The Young Tuxedo Brass Band for some 20 years up to his death.

Career

Casimir started playing professionally with the Young Eagles Band with Lee Collins in 1919. He was also a member of the Original Tuxedo Brass Band, often following the lead of Louis Armstrong. The Young Tuxedo Brass Band's 1958 album was released under the title ''Jazz Begins'' by Atlantic Records. It was the only recording the band released under his leadership. Casimir also led a dance band using some of the same musicians under the name the Young Tuxedo Jazz Band, which also recorded. Casimir played Bb clarinet with the jazz band, and the distinctive higher Eb clarinet with brass bands.

Source

* ''New Orleans Jazz: A Family Album'' by Al Rose and Edmond Souchon, Third Edition, Louisiana State University Press, 1984

References

1898 births 1963 deaths Jazz musicians from New Orleans American jazz clarinetists 20th-century American musicians Tuxedo Brass Band members Young Tuxedo Brass Band members Eureka Brass Band members {{US-clarinetist-stub