[Tradjazz] Fwd: John Brunious, 67; trumpeter led New Orleans' Preservation Hall Jazz Band

[Jon-Erik Kellso]

Sorry to be the bearer of such sad news.
-Jon


John Brunious, 67; trumpeter led New Orleans' Preservation Hall Jazz Band

>From the Associated Press

February 16, 2008



Trumpeter John Brunious, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band's leader and the
senior member of the New Orleans ensemble, died Tuesday after an apparent
heart attack in Orlando, Fla., where he had been living since Hurricane
Katrina. He was 67.



A native of New Orleans who had a striking physical presence with a full
head of white hair and a white mustache, Brunious began his career at the
famous French Quarter music spot in 1987.



"His was one of the old musical New Orleans families," said Michael White, a
music historian and professor at Xavier University. "They went back to early
days of jazz. He carried on that kind of tradition."



Dressed in the traditional white shirt and black pants of old-school New
Orleans jazz bands, Brunious carried on the heritage of jazz funerals. He
played the slow, somber music that marks the march to the cemetery and the
high-spirited, upbeat tunes that symbolize the cutting loose of the spirit
of the deceased.



Born in 1940, he learned traditional jazz as a child from his father, John
Brunious Sr., a trumpet and piano player who arranged music for Count Basie,
Cab Calloway and others.



>From traditional jazz, Brunious then focused on bebop and rhythm and blues
as a young man.



"He was one of a generation of musicians that saw and participated in many
different styles of music," White said. "He grew up in an era when it was
still in style to learn traditional jazz, but he went on from there. At one
point he was the band leader with Little Richard."



Katrina flooded Brunious' apartment to the ceiling in August 2005.



He was rescued by a passing boat but was among the thousands stranded
without food or water at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. He stayed
there for five days before being evacuated.



Brunious lost all six of his trumpets to the flood but resumed touring with
the Preservation Hall band.



In May 2006, the Tipitina's Foundation, which promotes preservation of
traditional New Orleans music, gave Brunious a new silver-plated Conn
trumpet.



He is survived by his wife, Terri; a son, John; two stepdaughters; three
brothers; four sisters; and a granddaughter.



A memorial service is planned for Feb. 23 at Preservation Hall.





-- 
Jon-Erik Kellso
www.kellsojazz.com