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* Dec 25, 1892
Plaquemines Parish, La.
(Deer Range Plantation)
† May 4, 1976 New Orleans, La.
Born as Nathan Robinson, but better known as Jim Robinson or Big Jim Robinson,
on Deer Range Plantation.
He was an uncle of Sidney Brown.
As a brass band musician he played with:
Buddie Petit,
Deer Range,
Eureka,
Kid Howard,
Henry "Kid" Rena,
George Williams,
Happy Pals,
Onward,
Silver Leaf,
Tulane,
Tuxedo,
Original Zenith Brass Band
Jim Robinson was a very reliable New Orleans
trombonist who was much more consistent than most of the musicians he performed
with, never seeming to have an off day. A jazz pioneer, Robinson played guitar
as a child and started playing trombone in 1917, while stationed in France
during World War I; he was already 24. He started working in New Orleans in 1919
with Kid Rena, the Golden Leaf Band, and the Tuxedo Band. In 1923, Robinson
became part of the Morgan band which, under Sam Morgan's leadership, had a
recording session in 1927. He was a fixture in New Orleans for decades, playing
with many local groups while working days in the 1930s as a longshoreman.
Robinson was part of Kid Rena's 1940 recording session and joined Bunk Johnson's
band in 1942, meeting up with George Lewis. He returned to New Orleans with
Lewis in 1946, and was a part of Lewis's popular band during the 1950s and '60s,
touring the world and recording extensively. He was the top musician in the
Preservation Hall Jazz Band in the 1970s, staying active until his death at age
83. Jim Robinson recorded as a leader for AM (1944), Riverside (1961), Atlantic,
Pearl, Jazz Crusade, and finally Smoky Mary (January 1976).~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide
Jim Robinson recorded with the
Bunk Johnson Brass Band.
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