How to Hold a Jazz Funeral

A jazz funeral is a quintessential New Orleans tradition. Instead of simply mourning those who pass, a jazz funeral insists that people dance in honor of the dead. You can still cry all you want, as long as you realize that life goes on and that the dead would hardly want you to be sad forever. It's one of the most beautiful funeral traditions in the world.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Know that the musicians should be dressed in dark pants, white shirts, dark ties and caps. The musicians follow the tuxedo-clad grand marshal, who also dons a sash and top hat. The grand marshal sets the pace: place one foot out, with the other pulling behind in a slow drag. Marshals should hold the top hat across the sash on their chest.

2. Consider that a jazz funeral begins with dirges: sorrowful, dignified songs that usher the coffin to the cemetery. Popular songs include "Old Rugged Cross" a song that stems from old slavery days or "Just A Closer Walk With Thee." The bass drum sets the somber rhythm, the trumpet sets the melody and the clarinet provides the widow's wail.

3. Know that as the dirges progress, the funeral will develop a second line of spontaneous dancers, who will begin to shuffle alongside the band. None of these people may actually know the deceased, but their numbers grow the entire way to the cemetery.

4. Be aware that at some point, the procession needs to "cut the body loose." This may mean either actually burying the body or simply sending the hearse away from the procession into the cemetery.

5. Know that as soon as the body has been cut loose, the band breaks into an up-tempo song--for example "Didn't He Ramble?" At this point, the now-sizable mob of second liners should explode into a rousing dance giving the dead a good send off.

6. Open as many brightly colored umbrellas as possible, maybe as the band continues with a song like "Just A Little While to Stay Here." Umbrellas were an icon of royalty in Africa and were eventually adopted by the street parades of New Orleans.

7. Know that people should dance and revel to their heart's content. The cortège might eventually hold their own observance at the cemetery--but for most attendees, the point is simply to dance.

[jackdawrhythm]

on 10/6/2009 Most commentators and observers say that the second-lining does not start until AFTER the body is buried and the brass band have marched a respectful distance away from the cemetery. Of course, all things are possible.

[jackdawrhythm]

on 10/6/2009 CDs for listening reference:

"Fallen Heroes: A Jazz Funeral" by Olympia Brass Band (hard to find, but worth it)
"Funeral For A Friend" by The Dirty Dozen Brass Band (excellent in its own right)
"Authentic New Orleans Jazz Funeral" by Magnificent Seventh's Brass Band (a little too documentary for "easy" listening — but good for the "Big Easy" listening)

Here is an actual band to book, they'll travel to wherever you need them — Saint Gabriel's Celestial Brass Band. Contact is Tom Wiggins at 1-925-952-4585. I just booked them for my father-in-law's memorial coming up.

I have also been recently told that musicians from actual New Orleans are hungry and looking for gigs far and wide and will work for relatively little. Saint Gabriel's Celestial Brass Band are from the SF Bay Area and local to our memorial. Otherwise, I might have splashed out on travel expenses!