[Dixielandjazz] Second Line

[David Richoux]

Did you ever notice in a political speech and a lot of newspaper  
articles - if they get to some topic you know something about they  
usually get it wrong on some particular detail(s)? The president seemed  
to say that the band was the 2nd line or that the band did the 2nd line  
- wrong!  The band does play the songs that the 2nd lines dance to.

Anyway, here is a pretty concise definition of the topic: (from  
<http://www.fodors.com/miniguides/mgresults.cfm? 
destination=new_orleans at 110&cur_section=fea&feature=30009> )
-------------------------
The second line is a type of parade historically associated with jazz  
funerals; the term "second line" is often thought originally to have  
referred to the secondary group of participants in such a parade,  
behind the band and the family. "Second line" is also used to refer to  
the distinctive dance moves that can be glimpsed during New Orleans  
street parades of all sorts.

During the early 20th century, the New Orleans second line served an  
important community function. At that time, African-Americans were not  
allowed to buy insurance, so they formed mutual aid societies -- called  
Social Aide and Pleasure Clubs -- to help members through tough times.  
When a member's house burned down, or when someone died and their  
family lacked the funds for a proper funeral, the club would step in to  
help. Live bands and second-lining become integral parts of the  
fund-raising efforts. Combined with the city's long-standing penchant  
for a parade, these activities led to the current "second line"  
brass-band parade tradition.

Though the second-line tradition waned during the mid-20th century,  
today it is back with a vengeance. In addition to Zulu's Mardi Gras  
morning bonanza down St. Charles Avenue, a brass-band-led "second-line"  
can be found each Sunday from October to March in an inner city  
neighborhood of New Orleans.
--------------------------
Dave Richoux


On Sep 16, 2005, at 1:57 PM, JimSox at aol.com wrote:

>      When the president in his speech last night, in describing a New  
> Orleans
> jazz funeral, said that after the casket is laid in place, the band  
> breaks
> into a joyful second line, what exactly did he mean?
>      I've never personally witnessed a New Orleans jazz funeral, so  
> maybe
> some of you who have can answer the question.   Does the band form a  
> kind of
> flying wedge and go running full speed to break into the joyful second  
> line?   And
> why don't the people in the second line, if they're so darned joyful,  
> just
> let the band members in without forcing them to break in?   Is there  
> violence
> involved?
>      I'm sure someone will be able to explain it to me, so thanks in  
> advance
> for your help.
>
> Jim Branson
> Berkeley, Calif.
> _______________________________________________
> Dixielandjazz mailing list
> Dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com
> http://ml.islandnet.com/mailman/listinfo/dixielandjazz
>