Emile Christian

by Ron WynnA member of the famous New Orleans musical family, Emile Christian was among the most widely traveled, celebrated early jazz players. He played with his brothers Charles and Frank in groups led by Papa Jack and Alfred Laine, and in Fischer's Brass Band, then again with Frank Christian. He then worked with Merritt Brunies in 1916 in both New Orleans and Chicago, then played with Bert Kelly in 1917 before rejoining Brunies. This group was now called the Original New Orleans Jazz Band. Christian stayed with them until 1918, then replaced Eddie Edwards in the Original Dixieland Jazz Band, playing with them in London in 1919 and 1920. After a return to New York and brief period with the Original Memphis Five in 1921, Christian went back to London and joined the Broadway Sextet. He played bass and trombone in Germany, France and Switzerland from 1924 into the '30s. Christian played in Bombay with Leon Abbey in 1936, then played in France and Denmark before making his way back to New York in 1939. He'd finally returned to New Orleans by 1941 and played there until the late '60s.