Kid Howard
Encyclopedia
Avery "Kid" Howard was an American jazz
trumpeter associated with the New Orleans jazz
scene.
Howard began on drums at about age fourteen, but switched to cornet
and then trumpet after playing with Chris Kelly
. In New Orleans he played in the 1920s with the Eureka Brass Band
, Allen's Brass Band, and the Tuxedo Brass Band
. He led his own bands late in the 1920s and early in the 1930s; it was his band which played at the jazz funeral
for Buddy Petit. He played in the Palace Theatre
pit orchestra from 1938 to 1943. In 1943 he recorded with George Lewis
, considered to be among his best recordings. In 1946 he led the Original Zenith Brass Band, but played only locally for the next few years. In 1952 he returned to playing with Lewis, where he would remain until 1961. His later recordings with Lewis are uneven because he was battling with alcoholism
, which interfered with his abilities as a soloist. He fell ill in 1961 and left Lewis's band, and upon his recovery he led his own band from 1961 to 1965 and recorded several times; these recordings were also highly praised. He continued to play in New Orleans at Preservation Hall
and other venues up until his death of a brain hemorrhage in 1966.
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
trumpeter associated with the New Orleans jazz
New Orleans Jazz
New Orleans Jazz may refer to:*Dixieland, a style of jazz music*New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park*Utah Jazz, a professional National Basketball Association franchise that was previously based in New Orleans and known as the New Orleans Jazz, in recognition of the jazz music of New Orleans*A...
scene.
Howard began on drums at about age fourteen, but switched to cornet
Cornet
The cornet is a brass instrument very similar to the trumpet, distinguished by its conical bore, compact shape, and mellower tone quality. The most common cornet is a transposing instrument in B. It is not related to the renaissance and early baroque cornett or cornetto.-History:The cornet was...
and then trumpet after playing with Chris Kelly
Chris Kelly (jazz)
Chris Kelly was an American jazz trumpeter born in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana on Deer Range Plantation, perhaps best-known for his early contributions on the New Orleans jazz scene. Throughout the 1920s he was a regular collaborator with clarinetist George Lewis...
. In New Orleans he played in the 1920s with the Eureka Brass Band
Eureka Brass Band
The Eureka Brass Band was a brass band from New Orleans, active from 1920 to 1975.The group was founded by trumpeter Willie Wilson, and its early members included clarinetists Willie Parker, John Casimir, and George Lewis...
, Allen's Brass Band, and the Tuxedo Brass Band
Tuxedo Brass Band
The Tuxedo Brass Band, sometimes called the Original Tuxedo Brass Band, was one of the most highly regarded brass bands of New Orleans, Louisiana in the 1910s and 1920s....
. He led his own bands late in the 1920s and early in the 1930s; it was his band which played at the jazz funeral
Jazz funeral
Jazz funeral is a common name for a funeral tradition with music which developed in New Orleans, Louisiana.The term "jazz funeral" was long in use by observers from elsewhere, but was generally disdained as inappropriate by most New Orleans musicians and practitioners of the tradition...
for Buddy Petit. He played in the Palace Theatre
Palace Theatre
-Canada:* Palace Theatre, Calgary, Alberta* Palace Theatre , Montreal, Quebec - see Robillard Block-United Kingdom:* Palace Theatre, London, England* Palace Theatre, Manchester, England* Palace Theatre, Mansfield, England...
pit orchestra from 1938 to 1943. In 1943 he recorded with George Lewis
George Lewis (clarinetist)
George Lewis was an American jazz clarinetist who achieved his greatest fame and influence in the later decades of his life.-Ancestry:...
, considered to be among his best recordings. In 1946 he led the Original Zenith Brass Band, but played only locally for the next few years. In 1952 he returned to playing with Lewis, where he would remain until 1961. His later recordings with Lewis are uneven because he was battling with alcoholism
Alcoholism
Alcoholism is a broad term for problems with alcohol, and is generally used to mean compulsive and uncontrolled consumption of alcoholic beverages, usually to the detriment of the drinker's health, personal relationships, and social standing...
, which interfered with his abilities as a soloist. He fell ill in 1961 and left Lewis's band, and upon his recovery he led his own band from 1961 to 1965 and recorded several times; these recordings were also highly praised. He continued to play in New Orleans at Preservation Hall
Preservation Hall
Preservation Hall is a noted jazz performance hall located at 726 St. Peter Street in the French Quarter of New Orleans, Louisiana. It hosts nightly concerts featuring a rotating roster of bands. The bands of Preservation Hall typically perform jazz in the New Orleans style.Despite the fame of the...
and other venues up until his death of a brain hemorrhage in 1966.