[Dixielandjazz] Need Info Re Jazz Funeral

[Randy Fendrick]

In the last 6 months I have played three what some might call a jazz 
funerals.  One was the wife of a fireman who passed after a lengthly 
illness and we played Saints in the funeral home.  As it turns out the 
guys I used were all friends or fireman except for the clarinet player, 
plays in my group.  I paid him $50.00 for the tune.  I played one two 
weeks ago, for a young man, we had played his mothers funeral some 15 
years ago and wanted the same type of thing at his funeral.  We played 
up beat stuff with a 5 piece group for about an hour at the grave side. 
  $100 per.  The third was at a bar, 7 piece band, played  "Gone 
Fishin'" and Amazing Grace, and few other tunes all things the deceased 
and her husband liked.  The band donated their time and had the husband 
donate, $100.00 per player to the jazz society.  Which he did.
I would say, you decide what you want at your funeral. to put it 
bluntly it's your party and negotiate with the band their fees.  As 
President of the Central Iowa Jazz Society I would imagine that there 
are many folks who are players who would be honored to play at your 
funeral (don't take that wrong)  I played one funeral several years ago 
where the deceased asked that we play "I'm glad your dead, you rascal 
you"  Again, it's your party!
later,
rf

On Apr 6, 2007, at 9:24 AM, JazzMnJoe at aol.com wrote:

> Hello Listmates, I have just joined the list after a lengthy 
> absence.In line
> with the current thread concerning musicians pay scales,I wanted to 
> ask about
> whether there is any information for an individual who wishes to be 
> remembered
> with some type of jazz funeral. My thoughts are for a wake or viewing 
> period
> of two hours where friends could pay respects to the deceased and 
> surviving
> family members with appropriate soft dixieland music for an hour or 
> so. At  or
> during the funeral mass a few selections could be rendered like 
> amazing grace,
> little while to stay here and closer walk with thee.......At the grave 
> site
> ceremony a small band could play oh didn't he ramble and conclude with 
> When the
> Saints go marching in.    What would something like this cost?  Last 
> year I
> had a serious hospitalization and nearly bought the farm so to 
> speak....so I
> feel its high time to explore these needs.and final wishes...I have 
> been a trad
> jazz enthusiast since birth in 1934.....President of the central Iowa 
> Trad Jazz
> Society.........Jazzman Joe............
>
>
> **************************************
>
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>
Randy Fendrick
Southside Chicago Seven
Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra