Jim Robinson: Living New Orleans Jazz - 1976

At one time, Preservation Hall was one of the few places that carried recordings by many of the pioneering African American and Creole Musicians of New Orleans. There were dozens of local labels that had no where else to distribute or sell their albums. Smokey Mary was one such label. Founded and operated by long time trombonist with the Preservation Hall Band, Frank Demond, Smokey Mary was a labor of love for Frank. The albums were often recorded in his living room on the 2nd floor of his house on St. Phillip Street in Treme. Jim Robinson also lived on St. Phillip Street just doors down from Frank. This was no accident. Jim Robinson had such a strong impact and influence on Frank that Frank moved his family to New Orleans from Newport Beach, CA in the early 1970’s. I recall Frank working on the album. He would design the cover art himself, produce and engineer the recording sessions on a two track recorder which meant everything was performed and mixed live to tape. I doubt that more than 500 copies of this wonderful album exist. Jim Robinson was and is a legend. He recorded in the 1920’s with Sam Morgan on many classic sides. He was a mainstay at Preservation Hall from the day the door opened. The album was pressed in Louisiana in Ville Platte. Our dad would often support local labels by over purchasing inventory and storing them above the Hall for years, or decades, or in some cases half a century!! It was one of the many ways our dad would support local labels and artists.

-Ben Jaffe

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