Trombonist Lucien Barbarin dies of cancer at 63

Lucien Barbarin, a hardworking trombonist and native son of New Orleans succumbed to prostate cancer on Thursday, he was 63. He was diagnosed last March and a fundraising tribute concert was held at the Palm Court Jazz Cafe in November. A great-nephew of Paul Barbarin (who played drums during the 1920s in the bands of Joe “King” Oliver, Luis Russell, Louis Armstrong, and Red Allen) and second cousin to banjoman Danny Barker, Lucien Barbarin hailed from jazz royalty. Members of his family marched in the street parades and performed in the social halls and honky-tonks during the early twentieth century. Paul Barbarin’s father, Isidore Barbarin, played alto horn in the Tuxedo Brass Band which once featured a young cornetist named Louis Armstrong. Born on July 17, 1956 and raised in the projects at Claiborne and Orleans streets, Lucien first performed at age 6 with Paul Barbarin in the Onward Brass Band. Paul Barbarin died Feb. 17, 1966, while drumming in a Mardi Gras parade. In 1971, Lucien joined Danny Barker as a founding member of the Fairview Baptist Christian Church Band. Besides Lucien, Fairview Church boasted the blossoming talents of Leroy Jones, Dr. Michael White, and Herlin Riley. Like m