Hundreds of people crowded Corpus Christi Catholic Church on Monday morning for the funeral service for the iconic New Orleans composer, arranger and producer Wardell Quezergue. Michael Dominici was among them and he captured these images.
The Tremé Brass Band, which was augmented by dozens of other musicians, formed an aisle outside the church and began playing a mournful dirge as the casket of the great musician was carried slowly out to the waiting hearse by white-gloved pallbearers.
Besides, the many musicians who brought their horns and drums (Carl LeBlanc had his banjo) to pay tribute to the maestro, many others, including Dr. John and the saxophonist, educator and producer Harold Battiste (pictured above), were in attendance as well.
Trumpeters were well represented including Kermit Ruffins, Charlie Miller (pictured below), James Andrews, Ken Ferdinand, Glenn Hall III, and Herlin Riley. Riley is better known as a drummer.
The second line that followed the service featured all traditional jazz songs including standards such as “Bye and Bye” and “I’ll Fly Away.” The shot below features Greg Hicks and Craig Klein on trombones (Mark Mullins, the third member of the Bonerama horns, is out of the shot on the left) and Ken Ferdinand and Charlie Miller on trumpets.
Sousaphonist Ben Jaffe, Clint Maedgen (shown below on saxophone in front of the sousaphone of Matt Perrine) and clarinetist Charlie Gabriel represented for the Preservation Hall Jazz Band. All told, at least 20 musicians participated in the traditional send off.
