“Ms. Lollipop” (PDF) from the New Birth Brass Band album, D-Boy.

The ongoing influence of hip hop themes within New Orleans brass band music throughout the Nineties makes it difficult to identify the true meaning behind “Ms. Lollipop,” but this New Birth original tune as a soundtrack to second-line culture directly evokes the imagery of Baby Doll traditions in Mardi Gras celebrations. Author Kim Vaz-Deville documents the origins of The Baby Dolls social club in the segregation of New Orleans’ red-light district, Storyville, and her article “How New Orleans’ ‘Baby Dolls’ Created A Feminist Legacy” argues that “they remain a symbol of Black female resistance and resilience.”

Whether or not this music was intended to represent such resilience, the trombone solo showcases similar determination for expressiveness within confinement. A limited range and driving tempo lends itself well to the B-flat blues scale, however the repetition within the phrases creates a gradual tension that is released in the upper register. Similarly, syncopated rhythms and accents prevent any dancers from becoming too complacent within the working groove.

Here are two YouTube videos featuring Baby Dolls culture in New Orleans:

Recommended reading: Roll With It: Brass Bands in the Streets of New Orleans by Matt Sakakeeny. Published by Duke University Press.