Customer Reviews

Crawfish Fiesta

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I first heard Longhair on the record "New Orleans Piano". It's a remarkable record. For the most part the tunes are brutally simple, the left hand outlining a major chord, and the right hand playing simple repetitive licks. But one tune jumps right off the grooves, "Tipitina", the left hand plays a rhumba like bass figure unlike any you've heard, the right hand alternates between tinkling and hard hammering, and the Professor more or less yodels a long series of nonsense syllables interrupted by one intelligible phrase, "little momma want's a dollar". Everything about this tune is unique, it was a local hit for Longhair in the early 50's.

When I moved to N.O. in the 70's I attended my first Longhair event in a run-down church. Playing with Fess was a ragtag group that did include, however, the legendary Snooks Eaglin on guitar. The audience was in bleacher type seats in front of a small stage. At one point someone in the audience shouted out "Tipitina!", and the Professor launched into the tune. This time the lyrics were intelligible, about a certain Loberta that liked to indulge, with the exception of the line corresponding to "little momma wants a dollar" which was rendered "oolla molla wolla dolla" !

I heard Longhair on many subsequent occasions. Every time was a party. And, every time, the accompanying band was less than stellar. Didn't make any difference, Longhair was never less than great.

Likewise, most of Longhair's recordings are made with less than stellar backing musicians ("R&R Gumbo does feature some superfine playing by Gatemouth Brown.) However, the band on "Crawfish Fiesta" consists of some of the best musicians in N.O. This band rocks! Longhair is in top form. The CD leads of with "Big Chief", which is an anthem in N.O., and the tunes are great start to finish. It's as if the Professor dreamed the perfect CD, and, then, it came to pass.

This is Professor Longhair's best album and unfortunately it was his last. Professor Longhair is the very essence of New Orleans blues. He was Dr. John's mentor, who also was Professor Longhair's studio guitarist, before he dedicated himself to the piano and had a career of his own.

Crawfish Fiesta is my favorite blues album. It is full of energy and is just full of life and fun. Buy this album and take a virtual trip to New Orleans.

I think that "New Orleans Piano" and "Houseparty New Orleans Style" are better Longhair albums, but this one is also a great album. There are many lively cuts on which the horns and guitar mix together with Longhair's playing and singing to create a very appealing and exciting sound. This is an essential album, and a whole lot of fun.

The Professor does it one last time. If this don't get your toes to tapping and your rump to shaking, call your next of kin, tell 'em to start fussing over the will...you dead. It'll have you doing the 'second line' around the living room in no time a-tall. Beans an' Rice,half an oyster loaf, half a dozen soft shells and a 6 pack of Dixie Blackened Voodoo...it'll do you.

Good old typical New Orleans music from one of the old standby musicians. I am from New Orleans and this rekindles a lot of nostalgia in me.

If you were to purchase only two Professor Longhair discs, this is a must own - the other being Rock 'n Roll Gumbo. Take note on guitar is Mac Rebenack aka Dr John. Song listing is not in the correct order with the liner notes, but the order is correct as printed on the CD. Excellent album of beautiful music.

This is the last record officially recorded by the great Professor Longhair. If you don't know Fess was the Godfather of post 1940's New Orleans Piano. From somewhere he virtually invented a new style that Dr John, Allen Toussaint, James Booker (and the UK's Jools Holland) all borrowed from to differing degrees. Willie Fugal's Blues perhaps represent this best on this album. This is solo Piano except for added Conga.
His vocal style is also quite unique as well. Deceptively simple which occasionally becomes a sort of yodel.
This is a joyous record with 3 Sax players, a conga player and Dr John on Guitar. The recording quality is very good, as this was recorded in 1979 or 1980.
Rock n Roll, Blues and Jazz fans will all like this album. If you've just spent a difficult half hour trying to enjoy a late Coltrane album, this is such a relief.
Treat yourself to this recording.

"Crawfish Fiesta" by Professor Longhair contains a wonderful mix of New Orleans Louisiana (NOLA) grooves. If you like NOLA music, you will find your appetite satisfied with this CD. The city lost a crown jewel when Fess passed away, but he left his legacy in the hands of many musicians; many of which are on this CD.

No amount of hyperbole will suffice. Crawfish Fiesta is simply the best New Orleans album of all time and Longhair is the master. He has inspired an entire city and his image and music are ubiquitous around town. If you enjoy music in any form, you must own this album. Long live Longhair!

I found Prof Longhair by accident and what a surprise. Styled in the blues, Longhair somehow makes being sad - fun. Backed by horns he whips out sad lyrics you can't help but smile at. "Had I known you had company baby, I would have waited for my lunch. The man was twice my size and I believe he was carrying a Joe Louis punch". What a great picture that paints and puts a smile on a blue occasion. The CD is filled with other tasty lyrics that are similar and just as fun. That's not to say it's a whimsical CD. More of a lighter side of the blues. Enjoyable CD.