BRUNIES BROTHERS

The extensive Brunies family of New Orleans could have by itself populated the "Irish Channel" neighborhood of New Orleans with jazz musicians -- there were some half a dozen brothers and sisters who performed on various instruments, not to mention a musical mother, father, and cousin. This neighborhood also was the home of many other players of German, French, Irish, and Italian descent, including the entire membership of the Original Dixieland Jazz Band. So nobody seemed to mind much when the complete Brunies family band would set up their instruments on the front porch and blast away. Albert Brunies, better known as Abbie Brunies, was an influential cornet player and also led Abbie Brunies' Halfway House Orchestra, which despite the name did not consist of recovering alcoholics or felons on parole. The original version of this group functioned for around eight years beginning in 1919. Abbie Brunies actively gigged in the read more...