Death Of Louis Barbarin, 94, Cuts Link With Jazz's Past Submitted By N.O.V.A. Times Picayune 05-14-1997 ************************************************* Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ************************************************ Jazz historian Don Marquis remembers standing behind the bandstand at the old Dixieland Hall on Bourbon Street, watching drummer Louis Barbarin. "He was a fast drummer," Marquis said. "All you could see was his wrists barely moving. He used to say, 'It's all in the wrist.' " Mr. Barbarin, who died Monday at 94, retired in 1982 as his hearing failed, but his influence lingered among traditional jazz musicians. "He was like the grandfather of New Orleans drumming," said Michael White, a clarinet player and jazz historian who played with Mr. Barbarin at Preservation Hall. "It solidifies the end of the era. He was one of the early second generation of jazz musicians that influenced jazz all around the world." Mr. Barbarin was born in 1902, the son of a brass band leader. He received his first drum kit from his older brother, Paul, also a drummer, and studied with famed drummer Louis Cottrell Sr. His career began in 1918 when he substituted for his brother at Tom Anderson's bar. He did his first recording session for Columbia in the 1920s, but the record was never released, his daughter Marie Baptiste said. Paul Barbarin went on to record with King Oliver and Louis Armstrong, winning more recognition over his lifetime than his brother. But Louis Barbarin was a musician's musician, sitting in with many local jazz greats including John Robichaux, Buddy Petit, Punch Miller and George Lewis, jazz historians said. "Among a lot of musicians who stayed in New Orleans, a lot of them said they preferred Louis," White said. "He had all of the right ingredients in his playing and style that typified great New Orleans drumming." These included a wonderful sense of timing and a personalized, creative interpretation of the New Orleans jazz beat, White said. He could make his press rolls so smooth "they sounded like tearing paper," White said. Mr. Barbarin will be remembered for his work as a sit-down jazz musician, but he made an important contribution to brass bands in the 1960s, when he formed the revived Onward Brass Band with his brother Paul and Louis Cottrell Jr., Marquis said. The two brothers often would play their drums simultaneously as they marched, making it sound as if one person were making the music, Marquis said. Louis Barbarin also was one of the few drummers who could play "Big Noise From Chicago," a song requiring the drummer to tap out the music on the strings of a bass, he said. The Barbarin family continues its musical involvement through Mr. Barbarin's great-nephews, trombonist Lucien Barbarin and his brother, Charles. They in turn have been teaching their children the family traditions. While Paul tended to do more of the teaching, Louis also passed on respect of music to his family. "He was great for us to carry it on," Charles Barbarin said. "Our ambition was to keep playing traditional jazz, to try to keep it alive in New Orleans." Until six months ago, Louis Barbarin occasionally would return to his drum set, often playing for the family on holidays, Baptiste said. "He was fast. I was surprised he had the strength in him," she said. Besides Baptiste, survivors include another daughter, Josephine Barbarin Nelson; a son, Paul Barbarin of Los Angeles; and 19 grandchildren. A wake will be held Sunday at 6:30 p.m. at Boissiere-Labat Family Funeral Services, 1703 N. Claiborne Ave. A Mass will be said Monday at 10 a.m. at Corpus Christi Catholic Church, 2022 St. Bernard Ave. Burial will be in Mount Olivet Cemetery. There probably will be a jazz funeral, Baptiste said. Mr. Barbarin, who died Monday at 94, retired in 1982 as his hearing failed, but his influence lingered among traditional jazz musicians. "He was like the grandfather of New Orleans drumming," said Michael White, a clarinet player and jazz historian who played with Mr. Barbarin at Preservation Hall. "It solidifies the end of the era. He was one of the early second generation of jazz musicians that influenced jazz all around the world." Mr. Barbarin was born in 1902, the son of a brass band leader. He received his first drum kit from his older brother, Paul, also a drummer, and studied with famed drummer Louis Cottrell Sr. His career began in 1918 when he substituted for his brother at Tom Anderson's bar. He did his first recording session for Columbia in the 1920s, but the record was never released, his daughter Marie Baptiste said. Paul Barbarin went on to record with King Oliver and Louis Armstrong, winning more recognition over his lifetime than his brother. But Louis Barbarin was a musician's musician, sitting in with many local jazz greats including John Robichaux, Buddy Petit, Punch Miller and George Lewis, jazz historians said. "Among a lot of musicians who stayed in New Orleans, a lot of them said they preferred Louis," White said. "He had all of the right ingredients in his playing and style that typified great New Orleans drumming." These included a wonderful sense of timing and a personalized, creative interpretation of the New Orleans jazz beat, White said. He could make his press rolls so smooth "they sounded like tearing paper," White said. Mr. Barbarin will be remembered for his work as a sit-down jazz musician, but he made an important contribution to brass bands in the 1960s, when he formed the revived Onward Brass Band with his brother Paul and Louis Cottrell Jr., Marquis said. The two brothers often would play their drums simultaneously as they marched, making it sound as if one person were making the music, Marquis said. Louis Barbarin also was one of the few drummers who could play "Big Noise From Chicago," a song requiring the drummer to tap out the music on the strings of a bass, he said. The Barbarin family continues its musical involvement through Mr. Barbarin's great-nephews, trombonist Lucien Barbarin and his brother, Charles. They in turn have been teaching their children the family traditions. While Paul tended to do more of the teaching, Louis also passed on respect of music to his family. "He was great for us to carry it on," Charles Barbarin said. "Our ambition was to keep playing traditional jazz, to try to keep it alive in New Orleans." Until six months ago, Louis Barbarin occasionally would return to his drum set, often playing for the family on holidays, Baptiste said. "He was fast. I was surprised he had the strength in him," she said. Besides his daughter, survivors include a son, Paul Barbarin of Los Angeles, and 14 grandchildren. A wake will be held Sunday at 6:30 p.m. at Boissiere-Labat Family Funeral Services, 1703 N. Claiborne Ave. A Mass will be said Monday at 10 a.m. at Corpus Christi Catholic Church, 2022 St. Bernard Ave. Burial will be in Mount Olivet Cemetery. There probably will be a jazz funeral, Baptiste said.