Mardi

Photo: Infrogmation N.O./Creative Commons

After two weeks of parading, it's time to send Uncle Lionel Batiste home. The late, great bass drummer and local luminary, who died July 8 after a battle with cancer, will get a funeral send-off that starts Thursday evening, and extends into Friday afternoon with a jazz funeral.

On Thursday, Unc will lie in state at the Labat-Charobonnet Funeral Home, located at 1615 St. Philip Street. Viewing is until 5 p.m. On Friday morning, he will again lie in state at the Mahalia Jackson  in Armstrong Park starting at 9 a.m., with funeral services beginning at 11 a.m. Then, there will be a parade.

After the service is over, a jazz funeral is set to traipse through the Treme. The procession will depart from the Mahalia Jackson Theatre, and proceed out to Basin Street. The parade will then make a right on Basin St., left on N. Villere, a right on St. Phillip, followed by a left on St. Claude. Then, it will make a left on Ursulines, and continue to the Old Cozy Corner on N. Robertson.

After a stop at Old Cozy Corner, the parade will then continue on N. Robertson to Candlelight Lounge for another stop. Then, it will snake back to Basin St., and eventually onto N Claiborne. Ave. The parade will then continue under the overpass, stopping at Ernie K-Doe's Mother in Law Lounge, and eventually ending at Hunter's Field on St. Bernard Ave.

Burial will be at Mount Olivet Cemetery (4100 Norman Mayer Blvd.) following the jazz funeral.

Additionally, drummer and self-ascribed King of Treme Shannon Powell will open up his home tonight for a musical tribute to Batiste. The party starts at 6 p.m. at 1313 St. Phillip Street.