Albert Burbank

Who was Albert Burbank?

Albert Burbank was an American dixieland clarinet player.

Born in New Orleans, Burbank was taught clarinet by Lorenzo Tio, one of that city's most famous clarinet players. He stayed in the New Orleans area throughout the 1920s, playing wherever his services were needed. During the thirties, he worked with Kid Milton's band but was drafted into the US Navy during World War II. Upon demobilization, he worked internationally with the bands of Paul Barbarin and Kid Ory, later returning to New Orleans where he played with several of the well-known jazz and brass bands in the city. He was regularly seen at Preservation Hall and toured Australia with a band made up of Preservation Hall musicians. In 1975, he suffered a stroke but continued playing until his death on 15 August 1976. Recordings of broadcast performances he made with Kid Ory's band at San Francisco's Hangover Club have been issued on the Danish Storyville label, and some with trombonist Bill Matthews appear on Southland. Burbank also recorded with Wooden Joe Nicholas, Herb Morand, Kid Clayton, Paul Barbarin, Percy Humphrey, and Jimmy Archey.