Lucien Barbarin
I’VE FOUND A NEW BABY
Lucien Barbarin is the reason I started this transcription series. I met him in January of 2000 when I joined Harry Connick, Jr.’s band mid-tour in Rochester, NY as a music copyist. I would be fortunate to know Lu for the next twenty years until his recent passing in January from cancer. Lucien taught me a lot over that time. He was a consummate entertainer, one of the greatest I have ever seen. He had a certain genius in communicating with the audience. He could come out every night with just his trombone and literally a plunger and completely take over the show. He was the ultimate story teller. Every solo had an arc that would draw everyone in, mesmerized by what he would play next. And his patience…I’ve never seen a musician so confident in his ability to take his time knowing that what he had to say would ultimately validate the wait.
Lucien also understood that performance went beyond the notes. It encompassed so much more – the way in which he moved, looked at the audience, and interacted with those on stage. He just had a joy in his sound that was contagious. He lifted those around him to new heights with his wit and massive tone that was as big as a house.
Lucien knew the history of New Orleans jazz better than anyone. His great uncle was none other than Paul Barbarin. Lu always loved to explain how his uncle wrote “Bourbon Street Parade.” one of his features on tour. In fact, he actually started out as a drummer, playing drums at the age of six with his uncle’s band, the Onward Brass Band. Lu had profoundly great time and feel, and I’m guessing this drumming foundation is a substantial reason why. But it was ultimately the trombone where Barbarin would find his voice. Mentored by his guitarist/banjo cousin Danny Barker, who led the Fairfield Baptist Church Brass Band, Lu would start out on drums before making the switch to trombone. Shortly after he began working with the Hurricane Brass band as a trombonist. They would record their first record in 1976, and Lu would never look back.
Lu used to tell me all the time, “Geoffrey, the trombone is a SLIDE instrument…a SLIDE instrument!” He certainly didn't shy away from slide techniques. He was proud of it. If anything, he brought the tailgate style of Kid Ory to new artistry. I watched Lu many times transfix an audience of thousands playing just one note, because he knew how give that note so much meaning from subtle use of the slide and plunger. It was just genius to behold.
Today’s solo comes from Lucien’s record,
Little Becomes Much, that had just come out when I joined Harry’s group in 2000. It features Lu’s band from the Palm Court Cafe, one of the long standing residencies he had in New Orleans. I recall sitting in the back lounge of the tour bus listening along with Lu. He was so proud of it, and for good reason, it’s an amazing record.
The featured track, “I’ve Found a New Baby,” is a classic up tempo number. Lu plays two choruses and crushes it, displaying his magnificent rhythmic style and huge tone that made him a legend.
I don't have much to add in terms of analysis. Lu was so lyrical it defies explanation. I’d rather you listen and let his performance stand on its own. I will say that whenever I was in New Orleans, and I mean whenever, Lu would always invite me to play, without exceptions. He was incredibly generous and wanted to pass the tradition along to younger musicians. He encouraged me to learn the clarinet and work on some of the traditional repertoire, so that’s where I’m at today. Thanks Lu, I’m on it. It’s a slow process but a rewarding one. Miss you Lu.