RIP: Preservation Hall's John Brunious

[Carolina Beadhead]

Trumpeter John Brunious, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band's leader and senior member, died Tuesday in Orlando, Fla., after suffering an apparent heart attack. He was 67.


Mr. Brunious joined Preservation Hall around 1987, after substituting for longtime trumpeter Percy Humphrey. With his shock of white hair and the traditional white shirt and black pants of old-school New Orleans jazz bands, Mr. Brunious tutored rapt tourists on jazz funerals, second-lines and dirges before launching into "Just a Closer Walk With Thee."



http://blog.nola.com/lagniappe/2008/02/preservation_halls_john_brunio.html

[Blitzzzzz]

Trumpeter John Brunious, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band's leader and senior member, died Tuesday in Orlando, Fla., after suffering an apparent heart attack. He was 67.


Mr. Brunious joined Preservation Hall around 1987, after substituting for longtime trumpeter Percy Humphrey. With his shock of white hair and the traditional white shirt and black pants of old-school New Orleans jazz bands, Mr. Brunious tutored rapt tourists on jazz funerals, second-lines and dirges before launching into "Just a Closer Walk With Thee."



http://blog.nola.com/lagniappe/2008/02/preservation_halls_john_brunio.html

Hell, he was just a spring chicken, too! RIP Mr. Brunious!:cool:

[Michelino]

Hell, he was just a spring chicken, too! RIP Mr. Brunious!:cool:

This is sad...on tour He was a charismatic ambassador for New Orleans. The article mentions "A memorial service for Mr. Brunious is planned for Feb. 23 at Preservation Hall, to be followed by a second-line" If anyone goes, please give us a report.

I think they should consider bringing back his brother Wendell to fill the void at trumpet.

[Dixiegal]

This is sad...on tour He was a charismatic ambassador for New Orleans. The article mentions "A memorial service for Mr. Brunious is planned for Feb. 23 at Preservation Hall, to be followed by a second-line" If anyone goes, please give us a report.

I think they should consider bringing back his brother Wendell to fill the void at trumpet.

That's a great idea about Wendell - very fitting. I'm going to try and make it on the 23rd.

[festbabe]

:( So sad to hear this.

[windowman]

I was fortunate enough to spend a few hours with John in the early part of 2006. He was quite a character, willing to share countless stories of his travels around this world and the musicians he got to play with. He made my head spin with the litany of names he reeled off and the tales that accompanied them, including Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington. He was an opinionated man and enjoyed serious discussion. The last time I saw him I happened to have the seat directly in front of him on a flight from N.O. to Newark in the post-K days when I was commuting and contemplating leaving. The entire band was on the flight and John and I talked very briefly. He was not with the band at the Best of the Beat Awards in January and I asked Ben Jaffe how he was doing and Ben told me that he was not feeling well and was not up to playing. New Orleans has lost an icon, another treasure gone. Enjoy what you have, as much as you can, every day. Rest in peace, John.

FWIW, I have not heard of Wendell playing in a couple of years. I was told that he moved to Sweden to live with his girlfriend and their child. His name has not been mentioned here since before K.

[mightyradgumbo]

Wow that is sad news indeed....New Orleans does indeed lose another great musician. :(

[Cleophus]

What horrible news. :(
Mr. Brunious was the face of the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, for many.