Informal Interview With Emile Christian

To give our readers some inkling of what a great gent Mr. Christian is, let us tell you that this interview was obtained in spite of one of the worst thundershowers to hit New Orleans this summer. And only someone who has lived in semi-tropical New Orleans can actually know the meaning of a good old cloudburst in our section!

playing this same Windy City. The combo was only 4 pieces-drums, piano, "banjoline" and cornet. They were at the "Green Goose Cafe", with Burt Kelly the leader, on that peculiar "big headed-short necked" "banjo". While on the job, Kelly suggested to Christian that a trombone would sound good in the outfit, so Christian traipsed on down to Lyons and Healy, where he paid the enormous sum of $35 for a second hand trombone. If the place was not too crowded, Emile practiced on the bandstand.

Having made the date with Emile some time before, we were not too astounded when he appeared at our "Second Line" editorial headquarters

to the split second. Having been quietly reading in our offices for several hours, we were amazed to find Mr. Christian dripping wet. So soundproof is our building, that we had been totally unaware of the deluge that had been taking place! Apologizing profusely for having made him come out on such a day, he promptly brushed us aside and headed towards the business at hand.

Born in New Orleans, April 20th, 1895-Marais and St. Roch Avenue to be exact, he stems from a family of notable musicians. Two other brothers, Frank and Charlie, were also jazz-men of note from the very beginning. Between the 3, some 6 or 8 instruments could be perfectly handied. Such places as Milneburg, West End, Sportsmen's Park, Gretna, Algiers and dear old Bucktown were their familiar stomping grounds. When the Storyville section was great guns. Emile worked at "Peggy Armstead's" place at Bienville and Liberty. In this group were Merritt Brunies, Henry Brunies, "Red" Rowland, and an out-of-town pianist whose name escapes. Emile was playing cornet at this time.

EMILE CHRISTIAN

France - 1925

When Eddie Edwards was drafted, Tony Sparbaro (Spargo) wired Emile and asked that he come to Reisenweber's to take his place. Knowing the popularity which the ODJB was enjoying. Mr. Christian immediately accepted. Here, he and the ODJB stayed for about a year - then, to England. Chucklingly he recalls that the first night that they hit London, they were forced to sleep in Leon Erroll's dressing room, as no accommodations had been made for them! At the end of a most fantastically successful run (just short of a year), he returned to New York.

In 1917, just after Tom Brown's band created such a stir at Lamb's Cafe in Chicago. you could find Emile

(Continued on Page 17)

16

Annual- New Orleans Jazz Club Festival, Friday, October 7. 1955