Big Jim Robinson (born Nathan; December 25, 1892 – May 4, 1976) was an American

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its roots are in blues, ragtime, European harmony, African rhythmic rituals, spirituals, h ...

musician, based in

New Orleans New Orleans (commonly known as NOLA or The Big Easy among other nicknames) is a Consolidated city-county, consolidated city-parish located along the Mississippi River in the U.S. state of Louisiana. With a population of 383,997 at the 2020 ...

, renowned for his deep, wide-toned, robust "tailgate" style of

trombone The trombone (, Italian, French: ''trombone'') is a musical instrument in the Brass instrument, brass family. As with all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player's lips vibrate inside a mouthpiece, causing the Standing wave, air c ...

playing, using the slide to achieve a wide swoop between two notes (a technique that classical musicians call "glissando") and rhythmic effects.

Biography

Born Nathan Robinson in Deer Range, a small settlement on the west bank of lower

Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana Plaquemines Parish ( ; ; ; ) is a Parish (subnational entity), parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. With a population of 23,515 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the parish seat is Pointe à la Hache, Louisiana, Pointe � ...

, Robinson studied music under James Brown Humphrey. Robinson arrived in New Orleans looking for work shortly before the 1915 New Orleans hurricane, which wiped out his home town of Deer Range, and prompted Robinson to settle in the city. In his youth, he got the nickname "Jim Crow" because of his facial features, which resembled a Native American. He was playing professionally in his twenties, from

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

on. In the 1920s, he made his first recordings as a member of the Sam Morgan Jazz Band. He gained greater fame with the resurgence of interest in early New Orleans jazz starting in the 1940s as a regular member of the bands of

Bunk Johnson Willie Gary "Bunk" Johnson (December 27, 1889 – July 7, 1949) was an American prominent jazz trumpeter from New Orleans. Biography Birth Johnson gave the year of his birth as 1879, although Johnson stated on his 1937 application for Socia ...

and George Lewis. Occasionally, he also led his own band and appeared regularly at

Preservation Hall Preservation Hall is a jazz venue on St Peter Street in the French Quarter of New Orleans, Louisiana. The building is associated with a house band, a record label, and a non-profit foundation. History of the jazz hall In the 1950s, art de ...

in his later years. Robinson's widely-recognized style was influential with many later traditional and New Orleans-style jazz trombonists in the United States and Europe. California trombonist Frank Demond assimilated Robinson’s style thoroughly and took his place in the Preservation Hall groups after Robinson’s death. Robinson also tutored Big Bill Bissonnette. (The latter did not quite take, although Bissonnette did produce many recordings of the veteran musicians of New Orleans.) Robinson's signature tune, "

Ice Cream Ice cream is a frozen dessert typically made from milk or cream that has been flavoured with a sweetener, either sugar or an alternative, and a spice, such as Chocolate, cocoa or vanilla, or with fruit, such as strawberries or peaches. Food ...

", was requested at almost all personal appearances after his virtuoso performance of the number in an American Music Records recording made in the 1940s. He also was known for promoting audience participation—especially encouraging dancing whenever feasible. Jim Robinson died of cancer at the

Touro Infirmary Touro Infirmary is a non-profit hospital located in New Orleans, Louisiana. Founded by Judah Touro in 1852, it is a part of the LCMC Health System. Organization Touro Infirmary is affiliated with the Louisiana State University Health Scien ...

in New Orleans.

Discography

* ''New Orleans: The Living Legends'' ( Riverside) * ''Classic New Orleans Jazz Vol. 2 From The Rare Center Series'' ( Biograph, 1993, 2007)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Robinson, Jim Jazz musicians from New Orleans American jazz trombonists American male trombonists Riverside Records artists People from Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana 1892 births 1976 deaths Deaths from cancer in Louisiana 20th-century American trombonists 20th-century American male musicians American male jazz musicians Preservation Hall Jazz Band members Tuxedo Brass Band members Young Tuxedo Brass Band members 20th-century African-American musicians