Albert Glenny and Leonard Bechet 4/49

April 4, 1949 to April 14, 1949
New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana, United States
Interviews with Albert Glenny and Dr. Leonard Bechet. Albert Glenny (1870–1958) was a member of Buddy Bolden’s marching band (c. 1900) and played string bass with the bands of Kid Rena, Big Eye Louis Nelson, John Robichaux, and the Depression-era WPA Brass Band and ERA Orchestra. The box of the recording tape bears this description: “79, spry old gentleman, spots and freckles, eyebrows gone, toothless, his memory slow, eyes blurry and red, the slightly clawed fingers, clean, poor clothes, broken but polished shoes, quiet old fellow, looks 60.” Dr. Bechet was a trombonist, dentist, and older brother of renowned clarinetist Sidney Bechet. He led the Silver Bells Brass Band, featuring Sidney, until World War I and was a member of the Young Superior Brass Band in the 1920s. (See Lomax's interviews with Bechet with Glenny.)

Interview with Albert Glenny and Leonard Bechet about Glenny's learning bass and playing in a minstrel show band

Interview with Albert Glenny about playing at Pete Lala's in the District

Interview with Albert Glenny and Leonard Bechet about early brass and ragtime bands

Interview with Albert Glenny and Leonard Bechet about Buddy Bolden and Buddy Petit

Interview with Albert Glenny and Leonard Bechet about the first hot musicians in New Orleans and Glenny's influence on bass players

Interview with Albert Glenny and Leonard Bechet about early jazz musicians, orchestrations, honky tonks, and music teachers

Interview with Albert Glenny and Leonard Bechet about sporting life costumes, segregation, and opportunities for people of color in New Orleans

Interview with Albert Glenny and Leonard Bechet about the evolution and essence of jazz