James Rivers born 18 April 1937

James Rivers (born 18 April 1937) is one of the last survivors of a generation of iconic New Orleans musicians who backed up big-name hit-makers in the legendary recording studios of Cosimo Matassa, Allen Toussaint, Joe Ruffino, and others from the 1950s into the '70s and '80s. 

As an 86-year-old grand master of wind instruments, including saxophones, clarinet, flute, harmonica, and, yes, even bagpipes, Rivers has seen and done it all over the past 66-plus years. He has been an integral part of the history of popular music. The stories he could tell would fill an encyclopedia, yet to this humble, low-key gentleman, all the memories and adventures he can look back upon were just simply a part of the job he did for a living. 

From the very first Jazz Fest in 1970, when he was the sax player for Deacon John and the Ivories, to the present, Rivers has always been there. He came aboard when the festival was small enough to be held in the limited space of Congo Square. By the time it moved up to its larger, present-day location at the Fair Grounds Race Course, he was headlining with his namesake trio, which later became the James Rivers Movement, a quartet. 

Rivers, who was born in New Orleans, began playing clarinet at the Tremé’s Joseph A. Craig Elementary School when he was 14. Growing up in the 6th Ward, which the Tremé neighbourhood was called in his era, Rivers recalls traveling around with some “unscrupulous characters.” The Joseph A. Craig band would often parade on nearby North Claiborne Avenue that was alive with activity and lined with trees. Like most New Orleans jazz musicians, Rivers was active in the New Orleans rhythm and blues scene. After graduation from Booker T. Washington High School, he switched from clarinet to saxophone and never went back. 

                             

As a teenager in the 1950s, he was touring with such legends as Sam Cooke, Jackie Wilson, Hank Ballard, and others of that stature. He was in the room with Cooke when they played their instruments together and worked on the musical arrangement for "You Send Me," the million-selling song that launched Cooke's stellar solo career. Under his own name, Rivers only cut less than a handful of records for producer Senator Jones during the 1960s era of classic New Orleans rock 'n' roll. 

However, as a studio musician, his distinctive sax riffs can be heard on such classic singles such as “Don’t You Just Know It” by Huey “Piano” Smith and the Clowns, “Carnival Time” by Al  Johnson, Frankie Ford’s hit “Sea Cruise,” Eddie Bo’s “Every Dog Has It’s Day,” a version of “Just a Closer Walk with Thee” by Allen Toussaint and other recordings by Earl King, Robert Parker, Professor Longhair, Ernie K-Doe, Irma Thomas, Chris Kenner, Oliver Morgan, Benny Spellman, and too many others to name in a limited space. 

A very lucrative and high-visibility opportunity came to Rivers in the 1970s when Clint Eastwood was in New Orleans, shooting his film Tightrope. Looking for some modern jazz, Eastwood was directed to Tyler's on a night when Rivers was performing, and he was so impressed that he hired Rivers on the spot.Rivers composed the score for that film and several other Eastwood projects in the years that followed, culminating with a scene in The Bridges of Madison County. He and his band were seen on film performing an original composition, "Jammin' with J.R.," while Eastwood and co-star Meryl Streep rendezvoused in a nightclub. 

In the years to come, Rivers would hold down long-running regular gigs at Tyler's Beer Garden from 1978 to 1990, the Hilton Riverside Hotel, the Blue Room of the Roosevelt Hotel, the Royal Sonesta Hotel, and other well-attended venues throughout the city. 

Reflecting on a lengthy, eventful musical career, Rivers said, "I thank God for allowing me to live this long and to play this many years. When I was 19, I thought I'd be gone by 50. I'm way past that now and I'm just thankful. I look forward to playing Jazz Fest again. It's one of my favourite gigs." The saxophonist has been leading his own ensemble, the James Rivers Movement, since the early 1970s. At present he is performing every Thursday night at Irvin Mayfield’s Jazz Playhouse. 

“To my way of thinking, I can please everybody,” Rivers says of playing for mixed crowds of locals and tourists. That is just what James Rivers has been doing for his over a half a century long career. It’s difficult not to like a super-talented jazz playing saxophonist, flautist and bagpipe man, a soulful blues harmonica and singing guy and a musician who is aiming to please. 

(Edited from articles by Dean Shapiro @ Where Y’at. New Orleans & Geraldine Wyckoff @ The Louisiana Weekly)