PRJC Jazz Talk: Why is a Jazz Funeral Not a Jazz Funeral with John McCusker

Jazz funerals are as New Orleans as red beans and rice. But what if I said jazz funerals are not actually jazz funerals? It’s a provocative question and one we will explore over the tradition's 190-year history.

John McCusker has been a photojournalist in New Orleans since 1983, working at the Times-Picayune and the New Orleans Advocate. McCusker was part of the team awarded the 2006 Pulitzer Prize for Public Service for coverage of Hurricane Katrina. He is the author of “Creole Trombone: Kid Ory and the Early Years of Jazz” (2012) and co-author of “Jockomo: The Native Roots of Mardi Gras Indians,” (2019) both published by the University Press of Mississippi. McCusker founded the Cradle of Jazz Tour in 1994 with a goal of protecting and marking structures associated with the birth of jazz in New Orleans. In 2019, John founded the 1811 Kid Ory Historic House, a museum telling the story of the 1811 slave rebellion and the early life of jazz pioneer Kid Ory.

Our speaker is a favorite of the PRJC. His presentations are thoughtful, engaging, and are full of wonderful audio-visual media. This is a "not miss" session.

Registration is required by 5:00 p.m. the day of the presentation.