Jerry Jumonville R.I.P.

You may not know his name, but you have heard his horn. Though he only released one album under his own name, You Are My Dream, from 2008, Jerry Jumonville recorded and performed with a who’s who of rock, blues and jazz throughout his decades-long tenure in Los Angeles including Rod Stewart (it’s his tenor saxophone on the megahit “Tonight’s the Night”), Van Morrison, Bette Midler, Little Feat, Ringo Starr, Stevie Wonder, Rickie Lee Jones, Ry Cooder, Dr. John and dozens and dozens of others. 

Jerry Jumonville was a horn player’s horn player. Adept at virtually any style, he was also a musician’s musician who served as a horn section arranger for the Doobie Brothers, Professor Longhair, Bonnie Raitt, Dusty Springfield, Iron Butterfly and Maria Muldaur among others. 

Jumonville was a New Orleans native, born and raised in the Carrollton neighborhood, where he resided until the end of his life. He was 78 years old and passed away on December 7, 2019.

Check him out in 1975 at the center of this photo. (photo courtesy of John Birdsong)

I first heard Jerry soon after he returned to New Orleans. He played the whole second set with the Radiators in December 1991. Before long it seemed like he was everywhere jamming with the likes of George Porter, Jr., Walter “Wolfman” Washington, the subdudes, Kermit Ruffins and numerous others.

Because of his deep connections and vast resume, Jumonville could also be found sitting in with legends like Albert Collins and Solomon Burke. When Chuck Berry came to town in May 2009, he hired a local band, as was his custom, and Jumonville was his saxophonist.

Within a decade of moving home, he began playing headlining gigs at smaller clubs in town like the Spotted Cat with his Jump City band. He also began mentoring numerous younger musicians who have all gone on to have stellar careers. He regularly sat in with young talent and hired them for his band. Check him out in this video from 2009 with Danny Abel on guitar and Pat Casey on bass.

Jumonville was also a “char-actor” in the classic New Orleans sense. He was humorous to the point of hysterics and his humor was one of his greatest assets as he could instantly put anyone at ease. He coined a whole range of sayings that are currently making the rounds on social media.

Though not widely known since he spent most of his career as a sideman, Jerry Jumonville was the quintessential New Orleanian and one of the greatest and most respect musicians to ever come out of this town. I’m glad to have known him.

There will be a memorial service for Jerry Jumonville on Saturday, December 21 at Buffa’s from 1-4 PM.