The Young Tuxedo Brass Band Jazz Begins - Sounds of New Orleans Streets: Funeral and Parade Music

The tradition of funeral parade music in New Orleans dates back to the 18th century, when slaves, under the French, were permitted to bury their dead with music. In the funeral parade the musicians traditionally played both written music (before and during the ceremony) and improvised (after), thus emphasizing a most important aspect in the genesis of jazz - the impact of oral traditions upon written music.

The Young Tuxedo Brass Band was recorded by Atlantic Records' Nesuhi Ertegun and Tom Dowd after Ertegun was introduced to the group while advising "Life" magazine on a December, 1958 article about the music of New Orleans.