Jazz Funeral
I've been reading a little bit about jazz funerals this week. They are, of course, famous for their wild celebratory music, but the dancing and revelry don't begin until the departed is laid to rest. Until the mourners "cut the body loose" at graveside, the jazz funeral is a somber march. Only when the deceased is at peace do the mourners raise their horns to heaven to sing the spirit on to its reward. First the dirge, then the dance.
I've never been to New Orleans. A year ago Lisa blogged her trip there, and the city obviously deserves to be celebrated. But today there is still too much suffering, too much death, and too little peace to start the dancing. There is work to be done to ease the survivors' suffering, and to bring the too, too many dead to rest.
Adam over at The Amateur Gourmet is organizing a foodblogger charity effort that should be unveiled this week. In the meantime, please donate what you can to the Red Cross.
Comments
I am from that part of the country and used to live in New Orleans. I saw a couple of jazz funerals while I was there. It was unlike anything I'd ever seen.
Oh, and the food at the funerals there is even better than it is in other cities. What a great place it was.
Posted by: teahouseblossom | September 7, 2005 09:16 PM
cool blog, just found it off the kipblog database. i've just started a nyc restaurant blog, who knew people have been doing this for ages. i'm so out of the loop! enjoyed this post.
Posted by: Mona | September 11, 2005 05:26 PM
1st I'd like to begin with how wonderful your blog is. My friends and I had a debate over Garlic tasting once - but thats for another time. In addition, your right about Jazz funerals. New Orleans is like the "College Kid" of all the more adult cities of America. Like the child it is, it can't stay upset or angry for long. More adult new yorkers would find it appalling to begin life anew without a mourning period. New Orleans just wants to get back to happy frolicking as soon as possible.
Posted by: Irene | September 18, 2005 08:24 AM