Peter Bocage
Encyclopedia
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
. He was a cousin to New Orleans R&B musician Eddie Bo
.
Bocage was playing professionally before 1910, early on with such bands as the Original Superior Orchestra, the Original Tuxedo Orchestra, and the Onward Brass Band
. In the 1910s he played with Joe Oliver's band and with the Fate Marable
Orchestra. He was with the A. J. Piron Orchestra in the 1920s, with whom he went to New York City
and made a series of recordings; Bocage is credited as co-composer of some of the group's original numbers. He also played with Sidney Bechet
in Boston
.
Later he led a group called the "Moonlight Serenaders" and performed in the Eureka Brass Band
. He was head of the African-American musician's union local.
In his later years he made more recordings and performed at Preservation Hall
. Peter Bocage played at Preservation Hall in New Orleans and when asked by Sandra Jaffe to play less violin, famously replied, "Who knows more about this music, you or me?" ("Preservation Hall" by William Carter)
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
musician.
Cornet
The cornet is a brass instrument very similar to the trumpet, distinguished by its conical bore, compact shape, and mellower tone quality. The most common cornet is a transposing instrument in B. It is not related to the renaissance and early baroque cornett or cornetto.-History:The cornet was...
player, he also played violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
professionally, as well as sometimes trombone
Trombone
The trombone is a musical instrument in the brass family. Like all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player’s vibrating lips cause the air column inside the instrument to vibrate...
, banjo
Banjo
In the 1830s Sweeney became the first white man to play the banjo on stage. His version of the instrument replaced the gourd with a drum-like sound box and included four full-length strings alongside a short fifth-string. There is no proof, however, that Sweeney invented either innovation. This new...
, and xylophone
Xylophone
The xylophone is a musical instrument in the percussion family that consists of wooden bars struck by mallets...
. He was a cousin to New Orleans R&B musician Eddie Bo
Eddie Bo
Edwin Joseph Bocage was an American singer and New Orleans-style pianist. Schooled in jazz, he was known for his blues, soul and funk recordings, compositions, productions and arrangements...
.
Bocage was playing professionally before 1910, early on with such bands as the Original Superior Orchestra, the Original Tuxedo Orchestra, and 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...
. In the 1910s he played with Joe Oliver's band and with the 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...
Orchestra. He was with the A. J. Piron Orchestra in the 1920s, with whom he went to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and made a series of recordings; Bocage is credited as co-composer of some of the group's original numbers. He also played with 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...
in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
.
Later he led a group called the "Moonlight Serenaders" and performed in the Eureka Brass Band
Eureka Brass Band
The Eureka Brass Band was a brass band from New Orleans, active from 1920 to 1975.The group was founded by trumpeter Willie Wilson, and its early members included clarinetists Willie Parker, John Casimir, and George Lewis...
. He was head of the African-American musician's union local.
In his later years he made more recordings and performed at Preservation Hall
Preservation Hall
Preservation Hall is a noted jazz performance hall located at 726 St. Peter Street in the French Quarter of New Orleans, Louisiana. It hosts nightly concerts featuring a rotating roster of bands. The bands of Preservation Hall typically perform jazz in the New Orleans style.Despite the fame of the...
. Peter Bocage played at Preservation Hall in New Orleans and when asked by Sandra Jaffe to play less violin, famously replied, "Who knows more about this music, you or me?" ("Preservation Hall" by William Carter)