Dr. John and Professor Longhair
A Limited edition signed
print can be ordered for $200.00 plus $10.00 Shipping and handling
these are on heavy fine art paper and are shippd rolled
Each of my paintings has a
story, and this one is no exception.
I've had the honor of opening for Dr. John several times in my life but
the most memorable one
was a gig in LA, when I was playing piano with Paul
Williams and had to take the piano after Dr. John had taken it to another
dimension. It was a performance for graduates of a drug treatment program
in which Paul and Dr. John were both alumni, and it was very special for
me to see Dr. John and Paul both clean and sober. Last year
I played keyboards on Zigaboo Modeliste's new CD, Zig brought Mac in
to play on "Welcome to New Orleans", using my Yamaha p200, I'm doing
the Clavinet part on that song, even though we overdubed our parts
at different times, I can say I did a 2 keyboard thing
with Dr. John. that year I got to perform with 2 of my heroes, Willie
Nelson and Dr. John.
I saw Dr. John for the fist
time in Dallas in 73 at the Longhorn Ballroom, with James Booker on Hammond
Organ. I'll never forget that band, Dr. John was still into the
gris gris- mardi gras, headress era, and I didn't know who Booker was, but
I remember the afro, gold tooth and eye patch.
I saw Mac Rebannac again later that summer at the Montreaux
Switzerland Jazz fest with the Meters, Allan Tousaint, and Professor Longhair,
whom I was thrilled to meet. It was a piano players paradise that night,
it must have been some magic that summer, because the next day I took a train
to Vienna and played a few licks on Beethoven's piano, while the guard stepped
out of the building.
I miss "Fess", and wish I could
have become a friend. Dr. John Just Keeps getting better, and I'm glad
he's on a label that can do some justice to his music.
Since that summer
of 73, I became a devo-tee of New Orleans Piano, all the way from Jelly Roll
to monsters of today like Jon Cleary and Harry Connick Jr.
I just found a N.O. Piano radio show with some
really great rare stuff. Also I found a very useful program by the
company that makes "Band in a Box" called "The New Orleans Pianist" with
styles and examples played by Jon Cleary, Henry Butler and others.
I hope to have a New Orleans piano midi page at some
point, with some of my recordings and transcriptions from
some of my favorite perfomances.
This painting was a gift to my brother
Chip and his wife Denise. Chip was my earliest teacher, on a funky
old upright in Jackson Missisippi.
Back to the gallery
Links
WWWOZ
Radio free New Orleans, on RealAudio
Jon Cleary, A monster
New Orleans Pianist
Back to the main Menu