2. New Orleans
The music of New
Orleans incorporates
various styles of music;
borrowed from earlier
traditions.
Universally considered
to be the birthplace of
the jazz genre.
Jazz in New Orleans has
taken on various forms
that have either
branched out from
original Dixieland or
taken entirely different
paths altogether.
"Music here is as much a part of
death as it is of life."
- Sidney Bechet
3. History
The tradition of having
music at funerals comes
from the African pattern of
celebration, which takes
place in most aspects of life.
18th century – as brass
bands came into style, they
were called upon to play in
parades and processions.
They were not frequently
called upon for funerals until
the early 20th century when
the ragtime styled tunes
became more popular.
4. Jazz Funerals
This idea caught on among the African-
American population of the deep south
The tradition was not welcomed by the
Catholic church, and so was restricted largely
to the black Protestants of New Orleans
Partly because of the Catholic Church’s
disapproval, the idea of the jazz funeral waned
in the early 1950's.
The wild festivities ignored the attitude about the
required solemnity of the traditional memorial
service.
5. The Procession
• Begins with a march by
the family, friends, and a
brass band.
• The march starts at the
funeral home or church,
and ends at the
cemetery.
• The mood stays somber
until the deceased has
been laid to rest.
• People on the are
welcome to join in they
are referred to as the
“second line.”
• The music and dancing
encourage a therapeutic
release for mourners as
well as a celebration for
a life well lived.
6. The music and dancing of the jazz funeral have two purposes:
- Help the deceased find their way to heaven
- Celebrate the final release from the bonds of their earthly life
Music and Dance
7. Origins
The tradition combines
African practices
Haitian Voodoo idea of
celebrating after death
The Celebrating
pleases the spirits of
the after life.
A proper funeral was
needed for the spirit of
the deceased to move
on
8. Recent Days
Over time, the jazz funeral tradition has grown to
become New Orleans’ most honored of funeral
ceremonies.
They now incorporate horse-drawn hearses and
parades for fallen police officers, well-known
musicians, and other pillars of the community.
The traditional music of the jazz funeral began to
fuse with influences from the funk and hip-hop
world as street gangs and rappers alike adopted
this style for honoring their dead.
One of the latest jazz funerals was that of rapper
James “Soulja Slim” Tapp, the service drew a crowd
of thousands
9. The tradition of the New Orleans jazz funeral has
dispersed somewhat in the wake of Hurricane
Katrina
The victims of the Hurricane were given a final
goodbye in the true New Orleans style.
The New Orleans funeral with music has grown to
achieve its own respected standing among the
many ways to commemorate the passage of a
loved one.
The New Orleans jazz funeral salutes a life well
lived and the passage of a departed soul into a
better world.
The Jazz Funeral Today
10. References
(1989). 1932-1943 The Bluebird Sessions [Web Photo]. Retrieved from
http://www.parisjazzcorner.com/en/dis_fiche.php?ArtNum=3221
Barker, D. (1973). Bo urbo n Stre e t black. Oxford Univeristy Press. Retrieved from
http://books.google.com/books/about/Bourbon_Street_Black.html?id=FpmfAAAAMAAJ
Juan, J. (Photographer). (2011, May ). Olympia Brass Band [Web Photo]. Retrieved from
http://trumpetesetrombones.blogspot.com/2011/05/olympia-brass-band-new-orleans-la.html
Ne w O rle ans ja zz fune ralba nds a nd m usic . (2013). Retrieved from
http://www.jazznotjazz.co.uk/new_orleans_jazz_funeral.asp
Ne w O rle ans ja zz fune ralcusto m s. (2014). Retrieved from http://www.funeralwise.com/customs/neworleans/
Piazza, T. (Photographer). (1969). Slowdrag [Web Photo]. Retrieved from
http://coochiecrunch.com/2013/01/27/quote-for-the-week-33/
Salvatore, S. (Videographer) (2009). Ne w o rle a ns traditio naljazz a nd fune ralba nd [Web]. Retrieved from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAH-lE71wE4&list=WL586DC5E65435153F
Salvatore, S. (Videographer) (2009). Ne w o rle a ns traditio naljazz a nd fune ralba nd [Web]. Retrieved from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAH-lE71wE4&list=WL586DC5E65435153F
Tama, M. (Photographer). (2009). Second Line Parade [Web Photo]. Retrieved from
http://www.examiner.com/slideshow/original-big-7-social-and-pleasure-club-hold-a-traditional-second-line-
parade-the-seventh-ward
The jazz fune ra l. (1996). Retrieved from
http://www.neworleansonline.com/neworleans/multicultural/multiculturaltraditions/jazzfuneral.html
The Sidne y be che t so cie ty. (2014). Retrieved from http://www.sidneybechet.org/about-sidney-bechet/
Thursby, J. S. (2006). Fune ralfe stiva ls in Am e rica: Rituals fo r the living . (p. 39). Lexington, KY: The University
Press of Kentucky.
