George Baquet

George Francis Baquet (July 22, 1881 – Jan. 14, 1949) was an American jazz clarinetist, known for his contributions to early jazz in New Orleans. His father, Theogene V. Baquet, eminent New Orleans musician and educator, was also a clarinetist, as were his brothers, Achille and Harold.

Baquet's professional career began in 1897 while he was still in his early teens. He played in the Lyre Club Symphony Orchestra and then on the road with P.T. Wright's Nashville Students Company. He then joined the Georgia Minstrels, but returned to New Orleans in 1905, where he played with Buddy Bolden. In the 1900s and early 1910s he played off and on with John Robichaux, Freddie Keppard, and the Onward Brass Band. Baquet and Keppard played in Los Angeles with the Original Creole Orchestra, an ensemble Baquet remained in until 1916.

Later in the decade Baquet played in New York City at Coney Island. In 1923, he joined the Lafayette Players, in Philadelphia, where Baquet lived until his death. He assembled several of his own groups, including the New Orleans Nighthawks and George Bakey's Swingsters (sic). In the 1920s, Baquet recorded with Bessie Smith; in 1929, he recorded with Jelly Roll Morton, and in the 1940s with Sidney Bechet.

Birth and Death Data: Born July 22, 1881 (New Orleans), Died January 14, 1949 (Philadelphia)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1929

Roles Represented in DAHR: clarinet

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BVE-49452 10-in. 7/9/1929 Burnin' the iceberg Jelly Roll Morton ; Red Hot Peppers Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, clarinet  
Victor BVE-49453 10-in. 7/9/1929 Courthouse bump Jelly Roll Morton ; Red Hot Peppers Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, clarinet  
Victor BVE-49454 10-in. 7/9/1929 Pretty Lil Jelly Roll Morton ; Red Hot Peppers Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, clarinet  
Victor BVE-49455 10-in. 7/10/1929 Sweet Aneta mine Jelly Roll Morton ; Red Hot Peppers Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, clarinet  
Victor BVE-49456 10-in. 7/10/1929 New Orleans bump Jelly Roll Morton ; Red Hot Peppers Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, clarinet  
Victor BVE-49457 10-in. 7/12/1929 Down my way Jelly Roll Morton ; Red Hot Peppers Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, clarinet  
Victor BVE-49458 10-in. 7/12/1929 Try me out Jelly Roll Morton ; Red Hot Peppers Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, clarinet  
Victor BVE-49459 10-in. 7/12/1929 Tank town bump Jelly Roll Morton ; Red Hot Peppers Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, clarinet  
Columbia W147851 10-in. 1/17/1929 Tell me when Clara Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with instrumental trio instrumentalist, clarinet  
Columbia W147852 10-in. 1/17/1929 Empty house blues Clara Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with instrumental trio instrumentalist, clarinet  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Baquet, George," accessed November 6, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/114971.

Baquet, George. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 6, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/114971.

"Baquet, George." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 6 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/114971

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