New Orleans Funeral Jazz Band

The Tradition

In New Orleans the Funeral Jazz Band has long been part of the traditional New Orleans Funeral. As many of you will know New Orleans was the birth place of Jazz a hundred years ago. Jazz Bands accompanied the funeral mourners up to the cemetery playing slow spirituals such as “What a friend we have in Jesus” “Just a Closer Walk with Thee” and “The Old Rugged Cross” Once at the cemetery, and when the body had been interned, the Jazz Band struck up with some rousing New Orleans Jazz to celebrate the life of the recently deceased. “When the Saints Come Marching In” and “Didn`t He Ramble” being two favourites. This tradition continues to this day at New Orleans Funerals and New Orleans Jazz bands still get employed in the same way to participate in the funeral. In New Orleans, after the memorial service, the coffin is brought out and is shaken in a rigorous manner, accompanying the celebratory music, to give the deceased “one last dance”.

Here in England

Moving five or six thousand miles or so, what do we find? As specialists in live music, particulary jazz bands, we regularly get requests to supply a New Orleans Funeral Jazz Band for funerals close to home. In my opinion the single biggest factor has been the James Bond film “Live and Let Die” There is a New Orleans Funeral scene at the opening of the film and this has stuck in the mind of many people. It is almost always referred to when a recently deceased’s relative contacts us to arrange for a New Orleans Jazz Band to play at the funeral. Previous clients have found the addition of the band a great comfort and a way of lightening what can be a very moving and emotional time with The New Orleans Band. We are constantly struck by how clients and friends of the deceased are grateful for an opportunity to smile and feel uplifted at a time of great sadness.

Religious or Not?

Our New Orleans Funeral Band is suitable for religious ceremonies or for people who have no religion at all. Hymns can be played for religious clients and suitable tunes can be played for non religious clients. All are treated with equal dignity and respect.

Advice

What advice can we give to people wanting to hire a New Orleans Jazz Band for a loved ones funeral?

1. How many musicians do you require? We normally suggest four to six depending on your budget.

2. What should the band wear? Black tie and black suits are usually appropriate, or tuxedos and bow ties.

3. How much music should we have? I suggest that the band play the funeral hearse up to the chapel. The music is slow New Orleans Jazz to mourn the loss of the individual. There is then usually a small service of remembrance. The jazz band normally retires for this portion of the proceedings, but can play in the chapel if required. Once the funeral party come out, either to bury the deceased or to look at floral tributes, the New Orleans Jazz Band will strike up playing celebratory music. This normally goes on for between fifteen and twenty minutes.

4. Is that it? Not always. We can start outside the family house and take the funeral cortege down to the cemetery if it is local. We often get asked to go back to a relative’s house after the funeral to play for the wake.

5. How do you charge? We charge by the musician. Factors include where in England or Wales the funeral takes place and how much music is required.

Testimonial

This was a recent funeral we played for. We attended the wake after the service and played for the family and friends of the deceased. I think it expresses the feeling of comfort and a “lightening” of the grief mentioned above..... .

"Jeff We thought we would like to let you and all of Dan Darling and his lovely chaps know how grateful we were that you could make the celebration of our Dad, Duffys life so special. It made what was such a difficult day so much better. Dad did manage to listen to your music on your website and was all for you being there and sending him off just as he wanted. We all think we did him proud, and you did us proud.... Many Thanks Scott and the rest of the Heasman Family"

Jazz not Jazz have been supplying New Orleans Jazz Bands to funerals for many years and have a great deal of experience in doing so. We have travelled from London to Cornwall, Cardiff, Bristol, Birmingham and Northampton. Our musicians are all top London professionals with many years experience in playing. They know the music style inside out, are sensitive and unobtrusive and act in a dignified manner. If you want to discuss this matter further then contact Jeff Williams on 02 8761 8932 or 07747 801471 for more information on New Orleans funeral Jazz Bands.

 

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