Kid Rena

Henry "Kid" Rena (b. Aug. 30, 1898, New Orleans - d. Apr. 25, 1949, New Orleans) was an American jazz trumpeter who was an early star of the New Orleans jazz scene.

Rena may have taken lessons from Manuel Perez as a youngster. He and Louis Armstrong played in the same waif's home band, and when Armstrong joined the band on the S.S. Capitol, Rena was named his replacement in Kid Ory's band in 1919. He played with Ory until 1922, when Ory moved to Los Angeles; that year Rena formed his own band. This ensemble played all the New Orleans jazz houses regularly and played Chicago in 1923-24. He led the Eureka Brass Band in the late 1920s, remaining with them until 1932, when he formed his own brass band.

Rena was hit hard by the Great Depression, and he eked out a living locally in New Orleans playing old-style jazz as it waned in popularity in favor of swing jazz. In 1940, Heywood Hale Broun asked Kid Rena to record. Eight recordings were made in total, done at the Hotel Roosevelt and recorded by local radio station WWL on August 21, 1940. Rena's prowess as a live soloist was legendary, but by the time he recorded, he had lost much of his technical ability, and the recordings are of poor quality.

Rena never recorded again; he was an alcoholic, and failing health led him to quit playing in 1947. He died two years later.

Rena's 1940 sessions have been re-released on compact disc.

References