Just released. Allen Toussaint dubbed the late Professor Longhair the “Bach of Rock.” In an illuminating 2013 interview with Sound Opinions about Fess’ influence on his music — and New Orleans music — Toussaint said, “I say he is our Bach of Rock in New Orleans because he had inventions,” and demonstrated how Fess’ piano…
B. Getz outlines the history of funk. Allen ToussaintDr. JohnFats Dominofunkjames brownmusicneville brothersnew orleansprofessor longhairpsychedelic funksecond line
It’s been long overdue but Chris now has representation with the top-notch A Gallery for Fine Photography. Not only has Chris had access to the “who’s who” of the NOLA arts scene (Clementine Hunter, Tennessee Williams, Walker Percy, Thelma Toole, Professor Longhair) but Chris has shown me images not in the gallery (James Booker, Gatemouth, Charles…
Still in NOLA here is a newly curated anthology of the life and works of Professor Longhair (this year marks the centenary of his birth), originally documented by the late Stevenson J. Palfi. That “Piano Players Rarely Ever Play Together” is quite true, but we are lucky to have had the Fats-Ray-Jerry summit from thirty years…
Professor Longhair — Bogalusa baby born on this day. boogie woogieJazzjazz Festnew orleanspianoprofessor longhairTipitina
As one might expect there will be a plethora of shallow obituaries and a flurry of mediocre books but the best sources and likely to remain so are Rick Coleman’s Blue Monday: Fats Domino and the Lost Dawn of Rock ‘n’ Roll and Joseph Lauro’s The Big Beat: The Story of Fats Domino and His Band (available on…
I’ve been anticipating seeing this for quite some time now and today was the day. The DVD packaging is superb and of course features a “who’s who” of the NOLA music scene. Two of my favorite clips include the 1973 Don Kirshner Rock Concert with Mac, the Harry Connick Sr. (and 12 y.o. Jr.) segments, and the Scott Billington segment featuring…
Not that one really needs any confirmation, but listening to this rerelease, the genius is palpable. Maestro producer Scott Billington‘s liner notes are fascinating. Here’s hoping that more releases are in the offing — there is precious little available even at the Louisiana Music Factory. Also, check out this Guardian piece plugging the recent documentary. Bayou Maharajah: The…
From offBeat and Keith Spera. Mr. Matassa helped facilitate the role of New Orleans in the birth of rock ‘n’ roll. He opened his first studio, J&M Recording, in 1945 in the back of his family’s record and appliance store at the corner of North Rampart and Dumaine streets in the French Quarter. Its pedigree is…
I was interested to read Jan Ramsey’s OffBeat discussion of the relative failure of NOLA to honour it’s most famous (and of course America’s most famous art form, Jazz) not to mention the rather patchy public space recognition accorded to its most famous musical sons and daughters. Plaques such as located at the site of Cosimo…
manwithoutqualities 