Family members of John “Prince” Gilbert, a local jazz musician, are planning a funeral for the brass band saxophonist for Dec. 30 at Charbonnet Funeral Home. Gilbert died from a heart attack, without plans or money for a funeral. As of Dec. 24, they raised enough money to pay for a funeral, second line, burial and repast.
Gilbert’s son, Orlando Gilbert, organized the fundraiser on GoFundMe. He said reaching the goal was a major relief, both financially and emotionally.
“Obviously, you can’t really quantify people’s love and impact but to see a goal be reached in such a short amount of time is kind of a material representation of the support that people had for my father,” Orlando Gilbert said.
He said he wants to celebrate his father’s legacy in a big and loud “New Orleans manner.” Orlando organized second lines from the 16th through the 19th in the 6th Ward so the community could pay their respects. Nearly 100 people attended the second line last Monday.
“I feel like if he can see what’s going on he would definitely be happy and feel at peace and feel respected by the community,” Orlando Gilbert said. “The outpouring of love has been enormous. He would’ve loved that.”
At the time of his passing, Gilbert played saxophone for the Treme Brass Band. He was an original member of Rebirth Brass Band, and a member of both New Birth Brass Band and Hot 8 Brass Band, according to Orlando Gilbert. Gilbert also played with the Little Rascals Brass Band and performed with Fats Domino.
Orlando Gilbert, who is also a saxophone player, said his father helped define the role of the instrument in contemporary brass band music but never got the credit he deserved. He said the funeral will honor his father’s contributions to New Orleans’ brass band heritage.
“It was a great source of pride for me to know I was part of a legacy that goes way beyond me, and pride [for] the fact that my father contributed heavily to that legacy,” Orlando Gilbert said.
Benny Jones, the leader of Treme Brass Band, said Gilbert “had a great sound on the saxophone.” The band will perform at Gilbert’s funeral. Although there are other saxophonists to take his place, Jones said the band will sorely miss Gilbert. The band dedicated a show on Dec. 22 to Gilbert.
“We’re going to try to give him a jazz funeral, a nice send-off,” Jones said.
Gilbert will be laid to rest on Dec. 30 at St. Louis Cemetery. Orlando Gilbert said they wanted John to be interred alongside other great musicians such Danny Barker and Paul Barbarin.
Gilbert also collaborated with his son on a joint album, “A Crescent City Connection,” released September 2023.
“When we did our album together, my intention was to give him the praise and the credit and the flowers that he deserved, that he earned in his life,” Orlando Gilbert said. “And I still feel that way, or I still feel the urge to do that for him in his death now. I still want to celebrate his legacy and be unapologetically loud about that.”