Arthur “Monk” Hazel

Drummer, cornetist, and mellophonist Arthur Frank “Monk” Hazel (1903-1968) was born on the West Bank in Harvey, Louisiana, and began his career working with cornetist Emmett Hardy in 1919. In the 1920s he performed with the bands of Happy Schilling, Jules Bauduc, Tony Parenti, and with Abbie Brunies’ Halfway House Orchestra. His first recording was with Johnny Hyman’s Bayou Stompers in 1927. In the late 1920s and 30s he led his own Bienville Roof Orchestra, which was recorded in 1928, and later toured with the singer Gene Austin. After World War II he was closely associated with Sharkey’s Kings of Dixieland, and also worked with Santo Pecora and George Girard.