Customer Reviews

Funeral for a Friend

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Dedicated to one of their band mates who died shortly after this CD was recorded, "Funeral For A Friend" is packed with life, love, faith and funk. The Dirty Dozen Brass Band recorded itself as a New Orleans funeral band on this album, mostly without the help of big-name guest stars as on previous CDs.

Not all of the songs are well-known spirituals -- some, like "John the Revelator" and "Jesus on the Mainline" are blues songs. The music is wide open, with enough room for touches of bluesy slide guitar and a taste of Mexican accordion. And the music isn't all slow ... at times it really rocks.

Needless to say, this is the most unique musical offering so far this year and hands down my favorite thing to listen to right now. Far from being a bummer, "Funeral For a Friend" will pick you up and give you a fresh outlook on life. Thanks, DDBB, I needed that.

Jaw-dropping, eye-popping, thigh-slapping, can't-drive-straight, nerve rattling good. This music is so funky it made my teeth turn soft and my legs turn to rubber.

Seriously - tight and loose, all at once. The horns all seem to be going off in different directions and they all end up in the same place. The drummer doesn't seem to be paying any attention then he snaps the whole damn band together and you wonder if he was planning that all along or it just happened. Sorrowful joyous compelling music.

buyitbuyitbuyitbuyit. This disk is the only Christmas present you need to buy this year. One for everyone on your list. It's that good.

The Dirty Dozen Brass Band is more than yet another terrific group; because of all they've done to preserve true NOLA jazz, while infusing it with modern influences, they're also an important group. Funeral For A Friend finds them in the middle of their comfort zone and the result is a splendid and soul-satisfying CD. At 40:14 it's a wee bit skinny for the price, but the quality more than compensates.

The jazz funeral is one of many things NOLA got right. Family and friends march towards the cemetery, accompanied by a dignified, solemn brass dirge. Famously, the walk back home morphs into a strut as grief departs and makes way for jubilation. This is not a frivolous, ad hoc party, this party is crucial. Participants celebrate the life of the departed, his or her passage to a better place, and their own suddenly more precious lives.

The DDBB could have faked this music any time, it's familiar ground, but this CD is a tribute to one of its own, Anthony "Tuba Fats" Lacen. You can hear the authenticity in every note, the mourning, the delight, and even a supernatural presence - chilling. The liner notes advise listeners to "Play It Loud," and it's a good idea, the nature of the moment calls for complete immersion.

Just A Closer Walk With Thee gives you the whole dynamic - lament and foot stomp. I Shall Not Be Moved gets a rousing, hallelujah treatment tough enough to set the gators dancing while Please Let Me Stay A Little Longer, (a standout), blends guitar and accordion with baritone sax into a very jumpy jambalaya. What A Friend We Have In Jesus showcases the slow march; pretty, sad, reverential. Jesus On The Mainline - with choir - is a rabble-rouser, real revival stuff, and it's got a second act that is downright rapturous - amazing!

John The Revelator, (another standout), is slinky and infectious; skeletons might enjoy dancing to this one. The four remaining tracks are all hymns, alternating between furious and melancholy. It's a long emotional ride in a short amount of time. The closer, Amazing Grace, (1:00), is played straight, and wraps this masterpiece with a bow. Highly recommended.

I've ordered several New Orleans-based music CDs since Katrina and this is my favorite so far. For me, it captures alot of the spirit of the place. I'm not a gospel music fan. But even if you think you don't like gospel music, you can't help but like this--brass and drum with a splash of dixieland and blues, a little accordian. It was an uplifting treat to my ears and heart, despite the title, and reminded me again why New Orleans is a special place for nurturing musicians and expanding music appreciation.

I enjoyed this Cd tremendously
i would have preferred the songs were set up like a true New Orleans Jazz Funeral, with the dirges first then the happy up beat songs. But, as it is, it is a recomended CD.

As a minister, I enjoy worshiping the God of all creation with music; good music. What I enjoy most about the way the Dirty Dozen Brass Band gang play these old hymns is their laid back-n-loose musical interpretation. No pomp-n-circumstance here.
This is street church all the way.

This album is just oozing with emotion. It is quite obvious that these guys cared for Tuba Fats when you listen to this album. Great songs, great covers. If you like New Orleans music, you owe it to yourself to buy this CD.

I originally heard this group on a Garrison Keillor Prarie Home Companion radio broadcast soon after the tragic events in New Orleans last August. I enjoyed the music immensely and sought out recordings for my own benefit as a Christian and to indirectly help support our stricken brethren. I'm still glad I did, but the CD was not as satisfying as I had envisioned. While listening to this recording I soon realized that this group is highly improptu and serrendipitous and probably a real challenge to record. With all due respect, the majority of the music on this CD is very brash. One particular vocal piece is over sung and difficult to appreciate. Probably this is all due to a deficiency in my perspective, I'm sorry. The result is that I share this CD, which is good, but don't care if I get it back, which is bad. So, be careful.