Lionel Ferbos in His Second Century

On July 17 Lionel Ferbos broke his own record as the world’s oldest working jazz musician. The New Orleans trumpeter is now 102. Ferbos celebrated by playing a gig at the Palm Court, where he has performed for a substantial number of his ten decades. This shot of Ferbos recently won Skip Bolen the Jazz Journalists Association’s photo of the year award.

Associated Press writer Stacy Plaisance’s birthday article about Ferbos (pronounced Fair-boh) quotes him on his longevity.

“Isn’t that something?” he said. “But you know I never dreamed of that. I figured if I could go to about 50 I’d be doing good.”

To read all of Plaisance’s story, go here. For a Rifftides post about Ferbos when he was a mere 99, with a video that ends with his good advice, go here.