One of the enduring images of New Orleans is the jazz funeral, a long procession of mourners walking toward the cemetery with a full-piece brass band playing along behind. On their most recent release, "Funeral for a Friend," the Dirty Dozen Brass Band re-creates this jazz funeral with gusto. Perhaps their best work to date, the Dirty Dozen dedicated the CD to the late tuba player and DDBB member, Anthony "Tuba Fats" Lacen, and this month they will bring their unique style of New Orleans' music to Japan.
Don't expect anything slow, sad or morbid -- the music on "Funeral," perhaps their most serious and traditional set of tunes, is more an affirmation of life than consolation for its loss. DDBB's lively marching rhythms, call and response melodies, and funky guitar draw more from Mardi Gras party music than glum dirges.
The central focus, though, are the horns. In New Orleans, brass bands have traditionally been on call to play for any celebration, be they happy occasions or sad. Coming out of this still-vital brass brand culture, the members of DDBB have been recording a unique style of brass band music for 20 years and counting. Having worked with everyone from Dr. John to Widespread Panic and Norah Jones, they like to get around musically.