The New Orleans funeral march is an important part of the city's musical heritage; the band would play sombre music on the way to the graveyard, followed by more upbeat material on the way back in a celebration of the deceased's life and the need to move forward. This Jelly Roll Morton track opens with the tolling of a church bell, a vaudevillian spoken passage and two phrases from the traditional funeral march, before a delicious slide from trombonist Kid Ory launches the ensemble into the piece. Bluesy solos from clarinettist Omer Simeon and trumpeter George Mitchell are followed by the interesting use of a clarinet trio for two choruses, punctuated by a tight rhythm section and joined in the second chorus by a mournful trombone, before the whole band strikes up again.

Links

http://www.neworleansonline.com/tours-attractions/multicultural/jazzfuneral.html
The tradition of the New Orleans jazz funeral.

http://redhotjazz.com
An invaluable resource on early jazz, with extensive biographies, essays and downloadable tracks.

http://www.rootsandrhythm.com/
International US-based mail order record catalogue, specializing in roots music.

http://www.jazznblues.co.uk/
UK-based jazz and blues record specialists.