Buddie Petit

Buddie Petit (1890?-1931) was considered one of the greatest New Orleans jazz cornet players that never recorded; moreover, Petit influenced many 2nd and 3rd generation New Orleans jazz musicians as they got their professional start in one of his many bands.

Petit started playing after he heard his stepfather perform with the Bunk Johnson band. By the age of 20 years old, Petit’s reputation as a solid player was established and in 1917 with trombonist Frankie Dusen, he headed out to Los Angeles, CA to join Jelly Roll Morton’s band. Apparently the experience wasn’t a great one, so Petit returned to New Orleans refusing to tour outside the Gulf Coast region.

Buddie continued to lead successful dance and brass bands for the next several years and, unusual for a bandleader, always played second cornet. However, Petit would take solos during funeral processions on the way back to the cemetery. One of Louis Armstrong’s earliest memories was playing second-line cornet in one of Petit’s marching bands.

There are no recordings of Buddie Petit. Louis Armstrong’s record “Cornet Chop Suey” is the closest to Buddie’s style and sound.