Real New Orleans Jazz Funeral With Second Line

A musician named Mitchell Player who lives in the legendary Treme neighborhood of New Orleans and performs regularly at Preservation Hall went out to get groceries and came upon a real Jazz Funeral or what locals used to call a 'funeral with music.' Nowadays, you have to get a permit to hold one, but in the past, they were spontaneous. According to Wikipedia, "A typical jazz funeral begins with a march by the family, friends, and a brass band from the home, funeral home or church to the cemetery. Throughout the march, the band plays somber dirges and hymns. A change in the tenor of the ceremony takes place, after either the deceased is entombed, or the hearse leaves the procession and members of the procession say their final goodbye and they "cut the body loose". After this the music becomes more upbeat, often starting with a hymn or spiritual number played in a swinging fashion, then going into popular hot tunes. There is raucous music and cathartic dancing where onlookers join in to celebrate the life of the deceased. Those who follow the band just to enjoy the music are called the second line, and their style of dancing, in which they walk and sometimes twirl a parasol or handkerchief in the air, is called second lining."

As Mitchell said in his post, "This is how you go out in Treme..."

Mitch Player's band, Players, performs the timeless recordings Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong recorded together.  His vision is to take New Orleans to the world. Recenty, he's partnered with Brazilians in Natal and São Paulo to produce MPBJazz series which is a cultural exchange between New Orleans and Brazilian musicians. Find out more HERE.