Rock 'n Roll Gumbo

I may be wrong about this, but from what I've read, the late Henry Roeland Byrd, a.k.a. Professor Longhair, did not make any new recordings from 1965 to 1972. In 1974 a French recording team arrived in the state of Louisiana to help rectify this (read the excellent liner notes enclosed). By coincidence, Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown was in town, and the resulting sessions comprise an album that for years was in Living Blues Magazine's top ten blues albums. Not released in the USA until 1985, this is the original compact disc edition of "Rock and Roll Gumbo" and is now deleted; a more recent version exists, with inferior artwork and a slightly rearranged song flow (have not heard that edition, so I cannot comment on sound quality). This is an absolutely WONDERFUL album, all the musicians shine, and nobody has a piano style, or a voice, like Fess. One of those handful of truly life-affirming albums one is occasionally blessed to stumble upon - I first heard it playing in the huge jazz and blues section of the old Tower Records on West 4th Street in Greenwich Village; the track playing was "Tipitina", and I could not BELIEVE that human beings could make sounds like this - and you could dance to it! Don't miss this recording; R.I.P., Fess.

Great selection of songs and sounds great with nice clarity. You can really hear what everyone is doing. Gatemouth Brown’s creative and funky solos are a great compliment to Fess’ sound. If you’re a fan get this!

Great shape, thanks.

Best fess recording Ive heard! Strongly suggested. Always considered myself a guitar aficionado and Gatemouth's runs hereon are sweet but the keyboard work is second to none! This is about the only Piano player that I could listen to repeatedly...and I do! The sound quality is lacking on some of the other discs but not here.

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If you can sit still while listening to this CD, I send you my condolences. You have passed away.

What a great album. Don't know why it took me so long to discover Professor Longhair but if you haven't heard him you should give him a listen

Da high priest of nooawlinz R&B.

What can you say. The Prof was a God. This album is his best so if you want to get what he was about then buy this. Sound quality is excellent and has some great guitar work as a bonus from Clarence gatemouth Brown t'boot.The professor guided many top players in their early days like Dr John for instance and is still revered in New Orleans

My original vinyl collection is less than convenient to use and now I have all the Professor's tracks that I could wish for in a very easy to use format some even automatically downloaded to my Kindle which links to my car system so even if others don't share my choice in music I can commute in a world of my own.

bought as present, no complaints received

When you listen to this, you can hear the link between trad jazz and rock 'n' roll. His voice is great and I find the album a real pick me up. Thank you Hugh Lawrie and Desert Island discs for bringing this to my attention (one of Hugh's chosen tracks).

Joyous New Orleans R & B from the early seventies. Piano is his instrument and he can't half play. Guaranteed to get your foot tapping at the very least.