Captain John Handy

Captain John Handy (* June 24, 1900 in Pass Christian, Mississippi, † January 12, 1971 in New York City ) was an American jazz musician (alto saxophone, clarinet ). Phones Music rooted in New Orleans Jazz, in the he included also elements of rhythm and blues.

Life and work

Handy played since the 1920s in New Orleans in various local bands before he formed his Louisiana Shakers, with whom he played in the La Vida Dance Hall and toured regionally. In 1928 he moved to alto saxophone. In the 1960s, he was heard regularly with the band of trumpeter Kid Sheik Cola and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band.

As part of the New Orleans revival he recorded for GHB Records, RCA and Jazz Crusade. He then played in the December tape and came to Europe with various bands and became internationally known. In 1970 he joined the Preservation Hall Jazz Band at the Newport Jazz Festival and had a much-publicized appearance. Scott Yanow, according to he was " one of the top musicians of New Orleans jazz in the 1960s "