Big Bill Bissonnette

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Big Bill Bissonnette (born February 5, 1937) is a jazz trombonist and producer. He is a strong advocate of New Orleans jazz as played by the veteran African-American musicians. In the 1960s, he ran his own group The Easy Riders Jazz Band, formed his own label Jazz Crusade, and organized Northern tours for such veteran players as Kid Thomas Valentine, George Lewis, and Jim Robinson. After a period off the scene, with the successful publication of his 1992 memoirs The Jazz Crusade (which has many stories about New Orleans' musicians), Bissonnette reactivated his label and began to play again. Although a somewhat primitive trombonist, Bissonnette (whose idol is Jim Robinson) is a boisterous player with plenty of spirit. He has produced over 100 recorded jazz sessions for his Jazz Crusade label and he has appeared as trombonist or drummer on over 50 recording sessions of New Orleans jazz.