This piece was inspired by Kermit Ruffins ft. Rebirth Brass Band song, "It's Later Than You Think" from Album; "Throwback" released in 2005. I love this song, and every time I listen to it, I feel happy, dance, and imagine vibrant colors. I was creating this piece when Treme's very own Uncle Lionel passed away, so I included him looking down from the sky. The original is hand signed by Kermit Ruffins himself.
Secondlines are a historical tradition in New Orleans that was rooted from Africa. During slavery African Americans were allowed to attend Congo Square on Sundays where they secretly practiced voodoo, played music and dance. Since the Creole African Americans passed as whites they were allowed to learn and play classical music and worked as musicians for whites. Once whites got an idea that they were indeed blacks they were banned and the creoles joined the other African Americans in Congo Square with their brass instruments. The mixture of African rhythm and classical music created the sound that we call today secondline/brass music.
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