George Arthur Probert, Jr. (March 5, 1927 – January 10, 2015) 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,

soprano saxophonist The soprano saxophone is a higher-register variety of the saxophone, a woodwind instrument invented in the 1840s. The soprano is the third-smallest member of the saxophone family, which consists (from smallest to largest) of the soprillo saxop ...

, and bandleader active principally on the

Dixieland jazz Dixieland jazz, also referred to as traditional jazz, hot jazz, or simply Dixieland, is a style of jazz based on the music that developed in New Orleans at the start of the 20th century. The 1917 recordings by the Original Dixieland Jass Band ...

revival circuit. He was born in Los Angeles. Probert was an autodidact on his instruments. He played with

Bob Scobey Robert Alexander Scobey Jr. (December 9, 1916 – June 12, 1963) was an American jazz trumpet player of traditional or Dixieland music based originally in the San Francisco area and later in Chicago, Illinois. He was born in Tucumcari, New Mex ...

(1950–53) and then with

Kid Ory Edward "Kid" Ory (December 25, 1886 – January 23, 1973) was an American jazz composer, trombonist and bandleader. One of the early users of the glissando technique, he helped establish it as a central element of New Orleans jazz. He was ...

's Creole Jazz Band. Between 1954 and 1969, he played in the

Firehouse Five Plus Two The Firehouse Five Plus Two was a Dixieland jazz band, popular in the 1950s, consisting of members of the Disney animation department. Leader and trombonist Ward Kimball was inspired to form the band after spending time with members of the Disn ...

Dixieland revival band, an ensemble formed by animators from

Walt Disney Walter Elias Disney (; December 5, 1901December 15, 1966) was an American animator, film producer and entrepreneur. A pioneer of the American animation industry, he introduced several developments in the production of cartoons. As a film p ...

Studios, and recorded with Disney composer

George Bruns George Edward Bruns (July 3, 1914 – May 23, 1983) was an American composer of music for film and television. His accolades include four Academy Award nominations, and three Grammy Award nominations. He is mainly known for his compositions for ...

in 1957 and again in 1968. Probert led his own bands from 1973, touring America and Europe, especially

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. In 1997 Probert toured in England, Germany & the Netherlands with Big Bill Bissonnette's International Jazz Band; an all-star group which also featured Anthony "Tuba Fats" Lacen of New Orleans & British pianist Pat Hawes. He also worked as a television and movie music editor. He died on January 10, 2015, in Monrovia, California.George Arthur Probert Jr. Obituary
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Discography

*''Siren Songs'' ( Jazz Crusade, 1995) *''By George! It's Probert in England'' (Jazz Crusade, 1995) *''In the Gutter'' Big Bill Bissonnette's International Jazz Band'' (Jazz Crusade, 1997) *''Big Bill Bissonnette & His International Jazz Band Vol. 1 & 2'' (Jazz Crusade, 1997) *''George Probert's Second Story Jazz Band'' (

Jazzology Jazzology Records is an American jazz record company and label. It is part of the Jazzology group of labels owned and operated by the George H. Buck Jr. Jazz Foundation. Jazzology Records was founded in 1949 by George H. Buck, Jr. That year he ...

, 2000)

References

External links

* Scott Yanow, George Probertat

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 databa ...

*"George Probert". '' Grove Jazz'' online. * {{DEFAULTSORT:Probert, George American jazz bandleaders American jazz saxophonists American male saxophonists American jazz clarinetists Jazz musicians from California 1927 births 2015 deaths Firehouse Five Plus Two members American male jazz musicians 20th-century American saxophonists