Professor Longhair :: NOLA Piano Master

The James Booker re-post from last week has reinvigorated my interest in my New Orleans funk and soul collection which — with Mardi Gras in a couple of months — couldn’t have happened at a better time. So consider the Booker post the first in a series of NOLA themed features from now until Fat Tuesday.

Some of you really dug on the Booker sessions at Montruex and requested more information on his style of playing, etc. The short answer is that it all leads back to Roland (Roy) Byrd, better known as Professor Longhair. Dr. John has often been quoted as saying that ‘Fess was the true originator of funk and I couldn’t agree more. His syncopated left hand kept the beat while his right worked everything else in a style all his own. Straight funky and hotter than a fish fry in July.

For folks just getting into the Fess I always recc the superb two-disc Rhino anthology — after that taste you’ll most definitely move on to other live ’70s recordings and deep dish pickins. Three cuts below off Fess: The Professor Longhair Anthology.

Previously: james-booker-live-montreux-july-9-1978

One thought on “Professor Longhair :: NOLA Piano Master

Comments are closed.