Seven YouTube Videos Of "Little Liza Jane" (Part III)

 

Dirty Dozen Jazz Band - Lil Liza Jane [Mad Musicians] 1983 Mardi Gras Brass Jazz Funk 45

Musicdawn 45's, Feb 13, 2018  #jazz #funk #band

Dirty Dozen Jazz Band - Lil Liza Jane

Mad Musicians Records # VPA 344. Released in 1983.

Great example of traditional New Orleans Mardi Gras brass band jazz funk music! One of the very first Dirty Dozen Jazz Band recordings and probably their first vinyl single. Vinyl rip from musicdawn records collection.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8IEo-N9-zg
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Vocals consist of call &response words and scatting. The response is “Little Liza Jane”

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Edited by Azizi Powell

Latest revision - August 27, 2026

This is Part III of a four part pancocojams series about the "Little Liza Jane" ("Lil' Liza Jane") song family.  

This post showcases seven YouTube videos of the song "Little Liza Jane". 

Video #4 documents that the tune for "Little Liza Jane" was used for the 1970s African American song "Funga Alafia"..

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2026/08/little-liza-jane-part-i-general.html for Part I of this pancocojams series. That post presents a general overview of this song. 

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2026/08/some-lyrics-for-little-liza-jane-songs.html for Part II of this pancocojams series. That post presents selected comments from the online Mudcat Folk Music Forum that include examples of lyrics for "Little Liza Jane" songs 

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2026/08/three-contemporary-children-versions-of.html for Part IV of this pancocojams series. That post presents three contemporary examples of children's versions of "Little Liza Jane" and two early 20th century versions of those songs.

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The content of this post is presented for historical, folkloric, socio-cultural, and entertainment

purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to the unknown composers of "Little Liza Jane" songs. Thanks to the early collectors and publishers of these songs, and thanks to the performers and arrangers of "Little Liza Jane" songs. Thanks to all the publishers of these videos on YouTube.

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ADDITIONAL YOUTUBE VIDEOS OF "LITTLE LIZA JANE"

These videos are presented in no particular order.

Numbers are added for referencing purposes only.

SHOWCASE VIDEO #2 - Sam Chatmon: Little Liza Jane (1978)

Lomax Film Collection, Nov 16, 2011

Sam Chatmon performs "Little Liza Jane," vocal and guitar. Shot by Alan Lomax, John Bishop, and Worth Long at Sam Chatmon's home, Hollandale, Mississippi, August 1978

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Us0Uh57v0Tg&list=RDUs0Uh57v0Tg&start_radio=1

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #3 - Little Liza Jane -Hillary Klug Twins

@HillaryKlugandFriends, January 23, 2025

https://youtube.com/shorts/bz2Ke8OV7NY?si=3P9Q7G5g9ywZ1Z99

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #4 - Nina Simone: Little Liza Jane (Live at Newport, 1960)

May 10, 2021  NEWPORT

Recording session: Live at the Newport Jazz Festival, 6/30/1960

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_dIdWIsHVDM

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #5-Big Fun Brass Band- Lil Liza Jane 2ndline Parade

BIG FUN ENTERTAINMENT, May 23, 2022  FRENCH QUARTER [New Orleans, Louisiana during Mardi Gras]

Our 8-piece band & grand marshal Percy Ellis lead a group down Chartres St in the French Quarter.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PpCnWtlxOnc

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #6- Cha Wa "Li'l Liza Jane"

Music City Roots, Aug 11, 2016

Cha Wa performing "Li'l Liza Jane" at Music City Roots Live From The Factory on 8.10.2016
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This is a New Orleans, Louisiana Mardi Gras Indian version of "Little Liza Jane".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8dsqNXYYgY

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #7-Discover New Orleans Jazz: Lil' Liza Jane and Call & Response Fun!



Second Line Arts Collective, Sep 24, 2024  #CulturalMusic #BrassBand #InteractiveLearning

In this video, we dive into the rich cultural heritage of New Orleans music by exploring the melody of the classic song "Lil' Liza Jane." We compare its traditional West African origins* to its evolution into a swinging New Orleans brass band style. You'll also learn a fun call-and-response section that you can try yourself! Perfect for music teachers and students, this video combines history, music, and interactive learning. Join us and celebrate New Orleans' vibrant musical culture!

Welcome to the Little Stompers video series hosted by Robin Barnes! Designed for kids, this fun and educational series explores the vibrant world of New Orleans music. Join us as we dance, sing, and learn about jazz, brass bands, blues, and the unique cultural sounds that make New Orleans a musical treasure. Perfect for young music lovers, these videos feature interactive songs, exciting rhythms, and a journey into the heart of New Orleans' musical heritage.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ME4Jp7Dieo
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CORRECTION
The tune for "Little Liza Jane" that was used for the song "Funga Alafia" DID NOT come from West Africa.

The song "Funga Alafia" was composed by African American drummer and dancer LaRocque Bey in Harlem (New York City) in 1959 or 1960. At that time LaRocque Bey was a drummer with the New York City based group of Babatunde Olatunji drummers and dancers. 

LaRocque Bey used the familiar tune for "Little Liza Jane" and substituted some West African words for the English words for that song to compose the new song "Funga Alafia".  

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2024/11/the-real-origin-of-song-funga-alafia_26.html for the pancocojams post entitled "The REAL Origin Of The Song "Funga Alafia" (And What The Non-English Words To That Song Mean)."

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This concludes Part III of this four paart pancocojams series.

Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

Five YouTube Videos Of Fanga Dance Performances In The United States

D Kern, Mar 22, 2011  OMEGA INSTITUTE FOR HOLISTIC STUDIES

Baba Olatunji and the dancers and drummers from our class perform Fanga at Omega Institute in August of 1993.

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Edited by Azizi Powell

Latest update- December 16, 2025

This is Part IV of a four part of a 2024 pancocojams series on the "Funga Alafia" song and dance.

 This post presents some information about the West African Fanga dance. This post also showcases five YouTube videos of Fanga dance performances in the United States. These videos are given in no particular order. 

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2024/11/the-real-origin-of-song-funga-alafia_26.html
for Part I of this 2024 pancocojams series. That post is a complete reprint of my 2019 pancocojams post entitled "The REAL Origin Of The Song "Funga Alafia" - Hint: It Isn't A Liberian Song, Or A Nigerian Song, Or A Traditional African Song."

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2024/11/memories-of-singing-song-funga-alafia.html for Part II of this 2024 pancocojams series. That post showcases a YouTube video of African American dancer Nana Malaya Rucker and two djembe drummers performing "Funga Alafia". Selected comments from that video's discussion thread are included in that post..

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2024/11/what-is-origin-of-word-funga-in-song.html for Part III of this pancocojams series. That post presents my speculations about the word "funga" in the song "Funga Alafia" as well as information about the history of the fanga dance in the United States. In addition, that post presents all of the visitor comments and my replies from Part I and Part II of the  2019 pancocojams series about "Funga Alafia". (Part III of the 2019 pancocojams series doesn't have any comments as of the publication date for this 2024 post.) 

The content of this post is presented for historical, folkloric, cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to the West African cultures in Sierra Leone and Liberia for providing the basic blueprint for the United States versions of the Fanga dance beat and movements. Thanks to Asadata Dafor, Pearl Primus, babatunde Olantunji and other early choreographers and drummers of the Fanga dance. Thanks also to LaRocque Bey for composing the song "Funga Alafia. Thanks to all those who are featured in these showcase videos and thanks to publishers of these videos on YouTube. 

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INFORMATION ABOUT THE FANGA DANCE
The following quote is given as Excerpt #2 in Part III of this pancocojams series.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fanga_(dance)
"Fanga is a dance "interpretation of a traditional Liberian invocation to the earth and sky".[citation needed] The dance originated in Liberia[1][2] or Sierra Leone.[2] The first performance of a version of Fanga in the United States may have been by Asadata Dafora in 1943;[2][3][4] Marcia Ethel Heard believes that Pearl Primus hid Dafora's influence on her work.[5] The dance was written by Primus in 1959 in conjunction with the National Dance Company of Liberia.[citation needed] Fanga was one of the dances through which Primus sought to stylize and perpetuate African dance traditions by framing dance as a symbolic act, an everyday practice, and a ceremony.[6] It was then further popularized by Primus' students, sisters Merle Afida Derby and Joan Akwasiba Derby.[3][2] Babatunde Olatunji described Fanga as a dance of welcome from Liberia and he, and many others, used a song created by LaRocque Bey to go with the rhythm and dance, assisted by some of the students in his Harlem studio, during the early 1960s. Bey used words from the Yoruba and Vai languages (alafia = welcome; ashe = so be it; fanga = drum) and an African American folk melody popularized by American minstrels (Li'l Liza Jane).[7]"
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The definitions that are given for the words "alafia", "ashe", and "fanga" aren't their original meanings. Also, the Yoruba word "ashe" is correctly spelled "ase" in English.

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ADDITIONAL SHOWCASE VIDEOS.

These videos are given in no particular order and are numbered for referencing purposes only.

SHOWCASE VIDEO #2 -Pearl Primus Performance of Fanga Dance

Robert Damm, Mar 29, 2020

Primus performed the Fanga Dance for a TV broadcast entitled “Pearl Primus: Omowale (Child Returns Home).” 

I. The first part of the video was Primus speaking a dramatic monologue through which she translates the meaning of the dance:

Oh earth, Oh earth, you embrace the bones of our ancestors.

Help me, lend me your strength. Help me welcome my guests.

And drums, drums, lend me your voice. Help me welcome my guests.

Sky and earth, sky and earth. Sky, help me, bless me. Help me welcome my guests.

Then like the darting bird, I will search their hearts to see if there’s anger.

And when I find none, into the yard to find a fowl for their table.

Welcome from my heart to you, all that is good in me.

From my head, all I can think of for your comfort.

You’re welcome!

[Transcribed by the Robert J. Damm].

II. The second part of the video (starts at 3:41) was a performance of the Fanga Dance accompanied by three drummers.

III. Dramatic reading of "Inpinuzya" (starts at 8:42)

For more information about fanga, see these journal articles:

"The Origins  of  the  Fanga Dance"

First appeared in the Music Educators Journal, Volume 102, Number 1 (Sept. 2015)

National Association for music Education

https://ir.library.msstate.edu/bitstr...

"Fanga: Drum , Dance, & Rhythm"

First appeared in Percussive Notes, Volume 50, Number 6 (Nov. 2012)

Percussive Arts Society, Inc. Web: www.pas.org. Reprinted by permission.

https://ir.library.msstate.edu/bitstr...

"Fanga Alafia: History and Meaning"

First appeared in Orff Echo, Volume 43, No. 2 (Winter 2011)

American Orff-Schulwerk Association, Chagrin, OH. Used by permission.

https://ir.library.msstate.edu/bitstr...
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Notice that Pearl Primus' adaptation of the Fanga dance differs from Babatunde Olantunji's and some other versions of that dance. Some information about this is included in Part III of this 2024 pancocojams series.

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #3 - "Fanga" - "Welcome"

stagepresencehouston, Nov 22, 2010

Debbie Allen Dance Institute Houston 2009

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #4 - Fanga Alafia



Kenna Cottman, Apr 4, 2020

The Voice of Culture/ WE WIN Fanga Alafia.  This one is truly a Baye Fall fabric of sources: Pearl Primus, Kpele of Liberia, New Orleans, Baba Chuck Davis, Artie Thompson, Tamiko French, and more. www.voiceofculture.org

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #5 -  Fanga- Welcome Dance (Walkthrough)

digital rituals, Aug 2, 2024

Fanga, Alafia Ase Ase!

Pearl Primus

Babatunde Olatunji

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This concludes Part IV of this four part 2024 pancocojams series.

Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.