Professor
Longhair
Rock 'N' Roll Gumbo
Dancing Cat Records |
When Professor Longhair arrived in Bogalusa,
Louisiana to begin recording what would eventually
become Rock ‘N’ Roll Gumbo, it had been ten
years since he had released a record of any kind.
For an artist of his status, this bordered on
criminal, but the great piano man had languished in
obscurity for years, working as a janitor to support
himself, sweeping out record stores where his own
recordings once were sold. He was booked to perform
at the 1971 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and
that appearance served to rejuvenate his career as a
performer.
Just three days before the Bogalusa sessions, Fess’s
house in New Orleans burned to the ground and he
lost everything that he had. Whether this affected
him or not was unclear based on his studio work,
because he played like a man possessed, charging
through blues, boogie, calypso, and R&B with equal
dexterity. He played many New Orleans standards,
most of which he was originally responsible for;
“Hey Now Baby,” “Meet Me Tomorrow Night,” “How Long
Has That Train Been Gone,” “Dr. Professor Longhair,”
“Tipitina,” and his anthem, “Mardi Gras in New
Orleans.” He plays all of these songs with such
enthusiasm and passion that you can’t help but be
moved, and to move, when you hear them.
Longhair also does some impressive reinterpretations
of other classics, such as the Ray Charles
instrumental, “Mess Around,” which he attacks at
breakneck speed. This particular reading of “Junco
Partner” (a song he recorded multiple times) is one
of his best, and he works wonders with Hank
Williams’ “Jambalaya” and Little Walter’s “Mean Old
World,” two songs seemingly on opposite ends of the
spectrum, but transformed into Crescent City
classics by Fess.
Key
in the success of Rock ‘N’ Roll Gumbo is the
presence of several essential backing musicians,
beginning with the percussionists Alfred “Uganda”
Roberts (congas) and Sheeba, a.k.a. Edwin Kimbraugh
(drums). Fess liked to train his percussion men
himself, often starting from scratch, and he had
trained Sheeba nearly a quarter century earlier.
Bass player Julius Farmer was also essential to the
proceedings, and was a fresh-faced youngster right
out of music school at Southern University. Another
key ingredient was at guitar. Clarence “Gatemouth”
Brown was in town, having just recorded an album and
he and Fess bonded, both personally and musically.
Believe it or not, the disc almost didn’t see the
light of day in the U.S. Released in France and
other European countries in 1977, the album saw very
limited distribution, even after the Professor
passed away in January of 1980. In 1985, jazz
pianist George Winston was able to reissue it on his
Dancing Cat Records label, with remixing and
remastering, plus the addition of two previously
unreleased songs. From that point, the album enjoyed
wider distribution.I even remember seeing it in the
Record and Tape Tent during my first visit to Jazz
Fest in the mid ’80s.
Anyone who enjoys New Orleans music, particularly
piano, should have Rock ‘N’ Roll Gumbo in
their collection. Professor Longhair recorded many
memorable albums during his lifetime, but this
easily ranks with the best of his work.
--- Graham Clarke
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