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Leroy Jones

The legendary jazz trumpeter Leroy Jones is known to music lovers as the "keeper of the flame" for traditional New Orleans jazz and to critics as one of the top musicians ever produced by the Crescent City.

"The mission of the Leroy Jones Quintet is to expose audiences everywhere to the authentic music of New Orleans, the music of Louis Armstrong, Buddy Bolden, Danny Barker and all the other greats who have helped create the rich gumbo that is the sound of New Orleans," he says, "while putting our own more modern stamp on it."

Jones himself, a native of New Orleans, whose playing has been described as a blend of Louis Armstrong and bebop virtuoso Clifford Brown, has been a critical figure in the history of New Orleans music.

A member of the New Orleans Jazz Hall of Fame, he was leader at the tender age of 12, of the seminal Fairview Band, a brass band whose alumni have included some of the best known musicians in New Orleans. It was the Fairview Brass Band which is widely credited with restoring interest in the brass band tradition of New Orleans. Today, in fact, New Orleans has more brass bands performing than at any time in the city's history – an achievement that can be traced back directly to the Fairview Band and its successor the Leroy Jones Hurricane Brass Brand.

A regular at Preservation Hall in New Orleans and a featured performer in the Harry Connick Orchestra, where his playing and singing have made him a crowd favorite, Leroy has performed on every continent and in every major U.S. city at prestigious theaters, festivals and jazz clubs like the Village Vanguard in New York City. His television appearances include The Tonight Show, Good Morning America, Late Night with David Letterman, The Today Show, Arsenio Hall, Conan O'Brien and Oprah Winfrey. He is also a regular at the world famous New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, as well as French Quarter Fest and the Satchmo Summerfest.

He has also appeared on the soundtrack of the smash hit movie "Sleepless in Seattle" starring actor Tom Hanks.

Leroy has released a series of highly regarded CDs including "Props for Pops" his tribute to Louis Armstrong, "Back to My Roots," "Mo' Cream from the Crop", "Soft Shoe" and "Sweeter Than A Summer Breeze". He has appeared on numerous recordings with other artists such as Dr. John, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Anders Osborne, Chuck Carbo, Spirit of New Orleans, John Boutté, Lillian Boutté, Paul Sanchez, Danish Radio Big Band, Guillaume Nouaux and many, more others.

Leroy Jones: A New Orleans State of Mind

by Trish Richardson
October 7, 2008

“I'm not sure but I think all music comes from New Orleans.“--Lee DorseyWhile New Orleans may not be as popular as some of her sisters to the North, her personality and charm are second to none. She is as diversified as the people who live within her boundaries. Though she is indelibly linked with the unwanted visits from her ill-mannered and tempestuous cousins Katrina, Rita, Gustav, and Ike; she has proven to herself and the world ...

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Live Review

Leroy Jones at The Living Room

by Ian Patterson
October 15, 2006

Leroy Jones at The Living Room Sheraton Grande, Bangkok September 28, 2006

The Living Room is an odd-looking place. It resembles the bridge on the Enterprise from Star Trek, with its circular form; the seating arrangements are not dissimilar either and then there is the big window, although instead of dark space and asteroid fields the visitor sees Bangkok's Sky-train whiz by. The Living Room beats the bridge on two scores; firstly, there is a ...

Career

New Orleans Trumpeter Leroy Jones Performed At Super Bowl VI In 1972

Source: Spirit Of New Orleans Productions
January 30, 2013

Super Bowl VI, on January 16, 1972, was played in New Orleans' Tulane Stadium between the Dallas Cowboys and Miami Dolphins. The halftime entertainment consisted of a “Salute to Louis Armstrong", a tribute to Crescent City's best-known trumpeter who had passed away the previous year, on July 6, 1971. The show featured a then 13-year-old Leroy Jones as “Little Louis Armstrong" along with other performers the Onward Brass Band, Danny Barker, Carol Channing, Ella Fitzgerald and Al Hirt. The Onward ...
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Performance / Tour

Jazz Returns To Bourbon Street

Source: Spirit Of New Orleans Productions
July 1, 2012

New Orleans' Bourbon Street is returning to its original music one club at a time as rhythms of authentic New Orleans jazz float through the summer air. Up until the 1980's the sounds of jazz were flowing out of several bars and clubs on Bourbon Street. Blue Angel had George Finola with Clarence Ford and Ed Frank, the Famous Door featured Lady Charlotte, La Strada had June Gardner and his Gentlemen of Jazz, Frenchy's Leroy Jones & New Orleans' Finest, ...
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Event

Leroy Jones Reassembles the Fairview Brass Band for a Special Concert at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival 2009

Source: Spirit Of New Orleans Productions
March 31, 2009

This historic event, taking place at this year's New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, will reunite one of the most important brass bands in New Orleans' brass band history.

The Fairview Baptist Church Christian Marching Band was founded in 1970, and was the brainchild of reverend Andrew Darby, pastor of the Fairview Baptist Church. Reverend Darby wanted to involve the neighborhood youth with brass band music and also provide live music for the church functions.

He asked banjoist Danny Barker, ...
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TV / Film

Leroy Jones on Abc26/Wgno's "Good Morning New Orleans"

Source: Spirit Of New Orleans Productions
March 17, 2009

Leroy Jones will be performing on ABC26/WGNO's “Good Morning New Orleans" show tomorrow morning Wednesday March 18 between 6:15 and 7:00 AM. The band will consist of Leroy Jones, Todd Duke, Mitchell Player, and Bunchy Johnson and they will be performing songs from Leroy's new album “Sweeter Than A Summer Breeze". The CD was released on Valentine's Day 2009 and has received a lot of positive attention all around the world.

Leroy Jones has been a central figure in New ...
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Award / Grant

Leroy Jones Nominated for 21st Big Easy Entertainment Awards

Source: Spirit Of New Orleans Productions
March 16, 2009

Leroy Jones has been nominated for "Best Traditional Jazz" in the 21st Big Easy Entertainment Awards. The Big Easy Awards are New Orleans' premier event honoring the musical and theatrical talent of a city world renowned forits outstanding performing arts.

A combination of the Grammys and the Tonys in style, 45+ awards are presented to local talent by national and regional celebrities for accomplishments in both music and theater.

The winners will be honored at the awards gala at the ...
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Interview

Trumpeter Leroy Jones Interviewed at AAJ

Source: All About Jazz
October 7, 2008

While New Orleans may not be as popular as some of her sisters to the North, her personality and charm are second to none. She is as diversified as the people who live within her boundaries. hether times are hard or happy, joyful or mournful, she always has a song in her heart that she is willing to share. Not to mention, this is one lady who knows how to party.

Jazz trumpeter, vocalist, and New Orleans native Leroy Jones ...
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Recording

Leroy Jones' New Romantic Album "Sweeter Than a Summer Breeze"

Source: Spirit Of New Orleans Productions
March 5, 2009

"His trumpet sings with gorgeous flawlessness above the enriching string arrangements." --Geraldine Wyckoff, LA Weekly

Sweeter Than a Summer Breeze Leroy Jones’ Lush New Album Features Romantic Ballads Perfect for the Times

During tough times there's nothing more important than love, relationships and romance – and New Orleans trumpet legend Leroy Jones has created the perfect soundtrack for the era with his latest release: "Sweeter Than A Summer Breeze".

Filled with lush strings and some of New Orleans' ...
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"His trumpet sings with gorgeous flawlessness above the enriching string arrangements." Geraldine Wyckoff, LA Weekly, 2/9/09

To read the whole article go to link: http://www.louisianaweekly.com/news.php?viewStory=912

"With a new romantic CD, Leroy Jones and his trumpet are in tune like never before." Keith Spera, The Times-Picayune - Lagniappe 4/13/2009

To read the whole article go to link: http://blog.nola.com/keithspera/2009/02/trumpeter_leroy_jones_adds_str.html

"The gracefulness of the arrangements contributes in a profound way to the success of this homogeneous and balanced CD, rendering justice to a musician who has been able to give New Orleans music a flair of modernity." Jacques Aboucaya, Jazz Magazine (France) 3/2009

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Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

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