b. Jeanette Salvant, 18 December 1906, Pass Christian, Louisiana, USA, d. 29 March 2001, Charleston, South Carolina, USA. Kimball took piano lessons from the age of seven, taught others at the age of 11, and was performing as professional by her early teens. She played in dancehall and salon bands before settling into a long association with jazz bands in New Orleans. In the mid-20s she played in Oscar ‘Papa’ Celestin’s Tuxedo Jazz Orchestra, marrying the band’s banjo and guitar player, Narvin Kimball, in 1929. During her spell with Celestin, she appeared on recording sessions for Columbia Records. From the mid-30s, she was off the music scene for a while, raising a family but returned to work in the 40s. Although her marriage ended, she continued to use the name Kimball. She worked with many Crescent City bands, including that led by Buddy Charles at the Dew Drop Inn, as well as that of Sidney Desvigne. She was also active in the Holy Ghost Catholic Church as organist and director of the choir. In the 50s she rejoined Celestin, who had re-formed his band for an engagement at the Paddock Club on Bourbon Street. Following Celestin’s death at the end of 1954, Kimball stayed with the band under the leadership of banjo player Papa French for another two decades. She was also an occasional member of the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, touring with them in the early 90s, and was a regular member of Clive Wilson’s Original Camellia Jazz Band, with which group she made a number of records. She continued working and in 1999 was the recipient of the Black Men Of Labor Jazz Legacy Award. Although centred upon New Orleans for the most of her long career, and an ensemble player at heart, Kimball was also a good soloist and some of her late performances reveal a pianist of taste, flair and elegant drive.