Fess 100! with Dom and the Ikos
The Soul of New Orleans
Last Show: Sunday 23 rd December 2018
The Pheasantry (Chelsea)
Henry Roeland 'Roy' Byrd, better known as Professor Longhair was a New Orleans blues singer and pianist. His piano style has been described as "instantly recognizable, combining rhumba, mambo, and calypso.” The music journalist Tony Russell wrote that "The vivacious rhumba-rhythmed piano blues and choked singing typical of Fess were too weird to sell millions of records; he had to be content with siring musical offspring who were simple enough to manage that, like Fats Domino or Huey 'Piano' Smith. But he is also acknowledged as a father figure by subtler players like Allen Toussaint and Dr. John." Dom Pipkin has shared stages and bills with both of these heavyweights and tonight presents his all-star band in a 100th Birthday celebration of the great man’s music.