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With the Saint Gabriel's Celestial Brass Band - I have played many New Orleans style funerals, and some more traditional services, but this one was quite different!

There is a band in San Francisco that makes a good living playing similar gigs for the Green Street Mortuary but St. Gabriel's has done several in the San Jose area.

The tradition is a bit different from the New Orleans culture -

the bands are there to scaring off evil spirits along the route with crashing cymbals and loud drums, helping families give their loved ones a noisy farewell.

Always looking for interesting performances

How much was the corpse awarded for the gig?

Isn’t the competition the band with the highly energetic-sax-lady-bandmaster?

Klaus

imperialbari wrote:How much was the corpse awarded for the gig?

Isn’t the competition the band with the highly energetic-sax-lady-bandmaster?

Klaus

Yes, AFAIK Lisa Pollard (AKA The Saxlady) is the leader of the Green Street band at this point. I have heard of her playing in other bands, but I did not know she was in Green Street until recently.

Not sure if I understand your first question, but the band was very well payed for our performance - much higher than "scale."

This kind of gig could be lucrative for any area that has a sizable Chinese population. Check with mortuary companies for contacts.

David, I happened to wonder about the combination of professional and funeral. For me that is kind of pointing towards the deceased being part of an insurance scam (likely in an involuntary role).

The band of the saxlady has been mentioned in a thread here some years ago, where a few videos were presented. They had a sousaphone back then, but I see none in the photos I found via your links.

Klaus

This is a trombonist from the Green Street Mortuary Band. I would be interested in the title visible on the part.

Klaus

The Spacious Firmament (on High)



To the earlier question, I am not sure there is any kind of insurance scam going on, at least not any more than any other funeral home might do - it is a very controversial subject in the US and there are non-profit societies for encouraging simpler funerals.

There area few books about the New Orleans Black funerals and the bands that play for them - the whole idea of "Social Aid and Pleasure Societies" was developed there mostly to provide for a well produced funeral.

However, if Chinese folks want a loud band to scare away evil spirits I am more than happy to provide my tuba...

David Richoux wrote: To the earlier question, I am not sure there is any kind of insurance scam going on, at least not any more than any other funeral home might do - it is a very controversial subject in the US and there are non-profit societies for encouraging simpler funerals.

I'm not sure I understand what the scam is. Could you elaborate?

However, if Chinese folks want a loud band to scare away evil spirits I am more than happy to provide my tuba...

I'm pretty sure my playing scares both evil and kind spirits!

Thanks for the insight into a cultural aspect of SF that I was unaware of.

David Richoux wrote: To the earlier question, I am not sure there is any kind of insurance scam going on, at least not any more than any other funeral home might do - it is a very controversial subject in the US and there are non-profit societies for encouraging simpler funerals.

tofu wrote: I'm not sure I understand what the scam is. Could you elaborate?

You might look at the book The American Way of Death" by Jessica Mitford (Yes, I know she was a "Controversial Commie" but this book transcends politics, I think.)