Norbert Susemihl


Norbert Susemihl is a German trumpeter, drummer, singer, and bandleader. He is a promoter of New Orleans Jazz and New Orleans Music.

Early years

Susemihl grew up in Hamburg, Germany. He started playing music at the age of 14 on guitar with his first band "The Shepherds", which he co-founded with Thomas l'Etienne. This was a vocal group which sang Spirituals and Gospel-Songs, inspired by the "Golden Gate Quartet". After a year, in 1971, Susemihl started to play trumpet, and the band changed its name to "Papa Tom's Lamentation Jazzband" playing and studying Traditional Jazz from then on.

Musical career

In 1978 and 1979 Susemihl made his first trips to New Orleans. In 1980 he lived there for a year to study New Orleans Jazz and the lifestyle and culture that made and shaped this music. Through all of the 80s, Susemihl lived in New Orleans for 4 months each year and studied and played regularly with almost all of the local musicians, from the older traditional players to the younger generation, covering all styles of New Orleans Music.
He has made recordings in New Orleans with among others Willie Humphrey, "Father" Al Lewis (banjoist), Fred Lonzo, Lars Edegran, Orange Kellin, Frank Fields, Ernie Elly, "CoCoMo Joe" Joseph Barthelemy, Jason Marsalis, Louis Ford, Daniel Farrow, Kerry Lewis, Seva Venet, and vocalist Wanda Rouzan.
Since 1986 he has been leading his Hamburg based bands "Norbert Susemihl's Arlington Annex" and Norbert Susemihl's Arlington Brassband".
His main formation today is "Norbert Susemihl's Joyful Gumbo" which was formed in 2002 and is based in Denmark.
Susemihl tours and performs with his own bands, and as a guest with different bands in Europe and New Orleans. He is considered as one of the leading contemporary trumpeters in the New Orleans style.
As his most important influences on trumpet Susemihl cites: Louis Armstrong, Bunk Johnson, De De Pierce, Alvin Alcorn, Jack Willis, Thomas Jefferson (musician), Wynton Marsalis, Kid Thomas Valentine, and Percy Humphrey.

Selected discography

As leader

  • Norbert Susemihl's Joyful Gumbo – Featuring Chloe Feoranzo & Jason Marsalis
  • Norbert Susemihl - A Tribute to the Louis Armstrong All Stars - Live at Maribo Jazzfestival
  • Romantic New Orleans - With Daniel Farrow, Seva Venet and Kerry Lewis
  • Norbert Susemihl – Night on Frenchmen Street - With Jason Marsalis, Erika Lewis, Shaye Cohn, Kerry Lewis and Gregory Agid
  • Norbert Susemihl's Joyful Gumbo – New Orleans Reflections
  • Norbert Susemihl's New Orleans All Stars – That Lucky Old Sun - Church Concert - With Jason Marsalis and Louis Ford
  • Norbert Susemihl's Arlington Brassband – Gladrags - New Orleans Street Music
  • New Orleans Blues – Erica, Norbert & Shaye - With Erika Lewis and Shaye Cohn
  • Norbert Susemihl's New Orleans All Stars – Live at Maribo Jazzfestival-Denmark - With Jason Marsalis and Louis Ford
  • Norbert Susemihl's Joyful Gumbo – Church Concerts - Sorgenfri Church - Vol. 5 Track 1,2,3
  • Norbert Susemihl's Arlington Annex – In Concert - Femo Jazzfestival 1999 - Director's Cut
  • Norbert Susemihl's Arlington Annex – High Heels
  • Norbert Susemihl's Arlington Annex – Live at Congress Centrum - Hamburg
  • Norbert Susemihl's Arlington Annex and Cocomo Joe's Jackson Square Trio
  • Norbert Susemihl's Arlington Annex – Featuring Wanda Rouzan
  • Norbert Susemihl's Arlington Annex – Live in Hamburg
  • Norbert Susemihl's Arlington Annex – Live in Ascona
  • Norbert Susemihl's Arlington Annex – Live in Hamburg
  • Papa Tom's Lamentation Jazzband – Festa New Orleans Music Ascona Track B3
  • Papa Tom's Lamentation Jazzband – The unissued Torhaus session - Hamburg - 1984
  • Papa Tom's Lamentation Jazzband – Live at Cotton Club - Hamburg - 1983
  • Papa Tom's Lamentation Jazzband – Feel The Jazz Vol. 6 - 1982
  • ''Papa Tom's Lamentation Jazzband – The unissued concert - Almelo - Netherlands - 1981''

As sideman

  • Doc Houlind's New Orleans Revival Band – Live at Sorgenfri Church On drums
  • Nadia and the Rabbits – Noblesse Oblique Track 1-5
  • Wanda Rouzan – Mama Roux Track 1-6
  • New Orleans Delight – Featuring Lee Gunnes & Norbert Susemihl
  • New Orleans Delight – Featuring Kristin Lomholt & Norbert Susemihl - My Little Girl
  • Max Lager's New Orleans Stompers – Featuring Sammy Rimington & Norbert Susemihl Track 1-4
  • New Orleans Delight – Featuring Norbert Susemihl & Mike Lund - Enjoy Yourself
  • New Orleans Delight – Church Concerts '99
  • Caledonia Jazzband – Is You Is Or Is You Ain't?
  • Wanda Rouzan – A Taste Of New Orleans Track 1-2
  • Willie Humphrey – In New Orleans
  • Father Al Lewis With Lars Edegran's New Orleans Jazz Band - Featuring "Father" Al Lewis (banjoist)
  • New Orleans Quarter – Christmas Jazz
  • New Orleans Quarter – NOQ Record 1
  • Savoy Ballroom Orchestra – Tanzmelodien Aus New Orleans
  • New Orleans Rascals and their guests