Manuel Perez (musician)
Encyclopedia
Emanuel Perez – also known as Manuel - (1871 – 1946) was an early New Orleans jazz
cornetist and bandleader. Being a contemporary of Buddy Bolden
(jazz royalty
), Perez is considered one of the originators, and was influential in crafting the early jazz and ragtime sound.
family of Spanish and French descent. One of his ancestors was an officer of the free black regiment which fought in the Battle of New Orleans
. He had two sons. One died in 1956 in New Orleans a bachelor. His eldest son moved to Los Angeles, where he died in 1999. When scholars attempted to speak to Perez in the 1930s he refused to cooperate and thus not much is known about his personal history. He made his start in brass bands around the late 1880s.
At the turn of the century, he became a member of the Onward Brass Band
and led the band from 1903 to 1930. He also started his own brass band called the Imperial Orchestra from 1901–1908. The Onward Brass Band was one of the most respected of its day. Some of the best-known players in New Orleans were a part of the group including King Oliver, Peter Bocage
, Henry Kimball, Lorenzo Tio
, Luis Tio, George Baquet
, Isidore Barbarin
, and Benny Williams. The Perez & Oliver two cornet, or "trumpet" team, was one of the most renowned in New Orleans. Perez was known for his beautiful tone, staying close to the lead, while Oliver improvised variations as a second cornet part.
Later, Perez went north to Chicago
in 1915 playing with Charles Elgar’s Creole Orchestra at the Arsonia Cafe and also with the Arthur Sims Band. Although Elgar and his Creole Orchestra recorded a few sides (albums) during this period, Perez however is not heard on any of these early recordings. Returning to the Crescent City in the 1920s, he played in the District (Storyville
), on steamboat
excursions with Fate Marable
, and in parades with the Maple Leaf Orchestra. Manuel suffered a stroke in 1930. During this period, he worked with his cousin, who owned a moving company, while he ran the used furniture store. “I was down in New Orleans and I saw Manuel before he died. I saw him and I couldn’t bear to see him; it was something awful. He just began to slobber at the mouth when you spoke to him...And when he looked at you there wasn’t anything in his eyes … it was like they were missing from his face, and his face, it had just come apart.” tells Sidney Bechet when seeing Perez in the early 1940s after he had suffered a series of strokes leaving him disabled and eventually leading to his death in 1946.
stated "Manuel and Joe King Oliver played together in the Onward Brass Band, really something to listen to when they played for parades and funerals. They had twelve musicians in their brass band. Eddie Jackson used to really swing the tuba when the band played marches. They sounded like a forty piece brass swing band." Armstrong would follow the brass band in the second line, as he listened to those early musicians whom he idolized in his youth.
In contrast to Buddy Bolden and his more improvisational free approach, Perez was a sight-reader and highly technical musician, some say he refined the play of Bolden and allowed for more of an orchestral (big band) style. Sidney Bechet
comments "Manuel Perez was one. He was a musicianer; he was sincere. He stuck to his instrument." In the terminology of early 20th century New Orleans musicians, a "musicianer" was someone with good technical ability on their instrument adept at sight-reading written music.
Manuel Perez was an innovator, with a supreme sound. His legacy might be best understood, in looking at the musicians that praised him, and the styles he influenced. King Oliver went on to become the jazz impresario of Chicago. Sidney Bechet toured the world featuring some of the same sounds Perez himself had played while battling other bands on the neutral ground of Claiborne Avenue
, and sitting solitary on the banks of the Mississippi River
.
New Orleans Jazz
New Orleans Jazz may refer to:*Dixieland, a style of jazz music*New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park*Utah Jazz, a professional National Basketball Association franchise that was previously based in New Orleans and known as the New Orleans Jazz, in recognition of the jazz music of New Orleans*A...
cornetist and bandleader. Being a contemporary of Buddy Bolden
Buddy Bolden
Charles "Buddy" Bolden was an African American cornetist and is regarded by contemporaries as a key figure in the development of a New Orleans style of rag-time music which later came to be known as jazz.- Life :...
(jazz royalty
Jazz royalty
Jazz royalty is a term that reflects the many great jazz musicians who have been termed as musically gifted, honorific, "aristocratic" or "royal" and had titles added to their names or nicknames due to their strong musical abilities....
), Perez is considered one of the originators, and was influential in crafting the early jazz and ragtime sound.
Life
Some details of his early life remain obscure. He was born into a CreoleLouisiana Creole people
Louisiana Creole people refers to those who are descended from the colonial settlers in Louisiana, especially those of French and Spanish descent. The term was first used during colonial times by the settlers to refer to those who were born in the colony, as opposed to those born in the Old World...
family of Spanish and French descent. One of his ancestors was an officer of the free black regiment which fought in the Battle of New Orleans
Battle of New Orleans
The Battle of New Orleans took place on January 8, 1815 and was the final major battle of the War of 1812. American forces, commanded by Major General Andrew Jackson, defeated an invading British Army intent on seizing New Orleans and the vast territory the United States had acquired with the...
. He had two sons. One died in 1956 in New Orleans a bachelor. His eldest son moved to Los Angeles, where he died in 1999. When scholars attempted to speak to Perez in the 1930s he refused to cooperate and thus not much is known about his personal history. He made his start in brass bands around the late 1880s.
At the turn of the century, he became a member of the Onward Brass Band
Onward Brass Band
The Onward Brass Band was the name of two brass bands active in New Orleans for extended periods of time.-Onward Brass Band :This incarnation of the Onward Brass Band played often in its early history at picnics, festivals, parades, and baseball games...
and led the band from 1903 to 1930. He also started his own brass band called the Imperial Orchestra from 1901–1908. The Onward Brass Band was one of the most respected of its day. Some of the best-known players in New Orleans were a part of the group including King Oliver, Peter Bocage
Peter Bocage
Peter Edwin Bocage was a New Orleans jazz musician.Best known as a cornet player, he also played violin professionally, as well as sometimes trombone, banjo, and xylophone...
, Henry Kimball, Lorenzo Tio
Lorenzo Tio
Lorenzo Tio Jr. was a master clarinetist from New Orleans, as were his father Lorenzo Tio Sr. and uncle Louis "Papa" Tio...
, Luis Tio, George Baquet
George Baquet
George Baquet was an American jazz clarinetist, known for his contributions to early jazz in New Orleans.His father, Theogene Baquet, was also a clarinetist, as were his brothers, Achille and Harold...
, Isidore Barbarin
Isidore Barbarin
Isidore John Barbarin was an American jazz cornet and alto horn player. He was a mainstay of the New Orleans jazz scene in the decades around the turn of the 20th century....
, and Benny Williams. The Perez & Oliver two cornet, or "trumpet" team, was one of the most renowned in New Orleans. Perez was known for his beautiful tone, staying close to the lead, while Oliver improvised variations as a second cornet part.
Later, Perez went north to Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
in 1915 playing with Charles Elgar’s Creole Orchestra at the Arsonia Cafe and also with the Arthur Sims Band. Although Elgar and his Creole Orchestra recorded a few sides (albums) during this period, Perez however is not heard on any of these early recordings. Returning to the Crescent City in the 1920s, he played in the District (Storyville
Storyville
Storyville was the red-light district of New Orleans, Louisiana, from 1897 through 1917. Locals usually simply referred to the area as The District.-History:...
), on steamboat
Steamboat
A steamboat or steamship, sometimes called a steamer, is a ship in which the primary method of propulsion is steam power, typically driving propellers or paddlewheels...
excursions with Fate Marable
Fate Marable
Fate Marable was a jazz pianist and bandleader.Marable was born in Paducah, Kentucky, and learned piano from his mother. At age 17, he began playing on the steam boats plying the Mississippi River...
, and in parades with the Maple Leaf Orchestra. Manuel suffered a stroke in 1930. During this period, he worked with his cousin, who owned a moving company, while he ran the used furniture store. “I was down in New Orleans and I saw Manuel before he died. I saw him and I couldn’t bear to see him; it was something awful. He just began to slobber at the mouth when you spoke to him...And when he looked at you there wasn’t anything in his eyes … it was like they were missing from his face, and his face, it had just come apart.” tells Sidney Bechet when seeing Perez in the early 1940s after he had suffered a series of strokes leaving him disabled and eventually leading to his death in 1946.
Style and legacy
Louis ArmstrongLouis Armstrong
Louis Armstrong , nicknamed Satchmo or Pops, was an American jazz trumpeter and singer from New Orleans, Louisiana....
stated "Manuel and Joe King Oliver played together in the Onward Brass Band, really something to listen to when they played for parades and funerals. They had twelve musicians in their brass band. Eddie Jackson used to really swing the tuba when the band played marches. They sounded like a forty piece brass swing band." Armstrong would follow the brass band in the second line, as he listened to those early musicians whom he idolized in his youth.
In contrast to Buddy Bolden and his more improvisational free approach, Perez was a sight-reader and highly technical musician, some say he refined the play of Bolden and allowed for more of an orchestral (big band) style. Sidney Bechet
Sidney Bechet
Sidney Bechet was an American jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, and composer.He was one of the first important soloists in jazz , and was perhaps the first notable jazz saxophonist...
comments "Manuel Perez was one. He was a musicianer; he was sincere. He stuck to his instrument." In the terminology of early 20th century New Orleans musicians, a "musicianer" was someone with good technical ability on their instrument adept at sight-reading written music.
Manuel Perez was an innovator, with a supreme sound. His legacy might be best understood, in looking at the musicians that praised him, and the styles he influenced. King Oliver went on to become the jazz impresario of Chicago. Sidney Bechet toured the world featuring some of the same sounds Perez himself had played while battling other bands on the neutral ground of Claiborne Avenue
Claiborne Avenue
Claiborne Avenue is a major thoroughfare in New Orleans, Louisiana. It runs the length of the city, about , beginning at the Jefferson Parish line and ending at the St. Bernard Parish line; the street continues in each of these locations under different names. It is called South Claiborne Avenue...
, and sitting solitary on the banks of the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
.