Hip shtick has its merits, but sometimes it overshadows genius. In the jazz world, Slim Gaillard had several club gimmicks that over time eclipsed the fact that he was a virtuoso pianist and guitarist. In the swamp jazz category, Dr. John stood out with his colorful and flamboyant New Orleans costumes and patois, but they tended to drown out the fact that he was a sterling jazz pianist.
Like Leon Russell, who was one year younger, Dr. John was a long-time session pianist and Wrecking Crew member who was called into studios for impromptu roadhouse and honky-tonk piano flavor. Born Malcolm "Mac" Rebennack, Dr. John gravitated to earthy music from the start in New Orleans. At 13, in the 1950s, he began playing with Professor Longhair and soon sat in with every leading piano roller in the city's clubs and joints. He was a quick study, and his keyboard sound was natural and spectacular.
I know this firsthand. Back in 2014, I flew down to New Orleans for The Wall Street Journal to interview Mac at his home across Lake Pontchartrain. After sitting outside for a spell, with an eye on the nearby foliage and the threat that alligators might emerge from the thick bush, we talked about his career and West Coast jazz for about a half hour.
Shocked that I knew what he was talking about and that I could finish his sentences when he drew a blank on the names of 1950s jazz musicians, Mac took me inside, sat me down next to his piano and proceeded to illustrate every conceivable New Orleans piano style. As you can imagine, it was an unforgettable pinch-me private performance.
To hear just how special Dr. John was, you have to listen to Dr. John: The Montreux Years, a new two-CD set released last week by BMG. The 15-song live collection recorded at the Montreux Jazz Festival between 1986 and 2012 is a rambunctious Cook's Tour through Dr. John's career, from jazz and soul to the blues, funk and rock. The tracks are...
- Professor Longhair Boogie
- You Ain’t Such a Much
- Sick and Tired
- Stack-a-Lee
- Accentuate the Positive
- Right Place, Wrong Time
- Rain
- Going Back to New Orleans
- Makin’ Whoopee
- Big Chief
- In a Sentimental Mood / Mississippi Mud / Happy Hard Times (Medley)
- Love for Sale
- Let the Good Times Roll
- Good Night Irene
It's unfortunate that a great jazz producer didn't have the good sense to bring together Dr. John and Leon Russell for an album or performance. That I would love to hear.
Dr. John died in 2019.
JazzWax tracks: You'll find Dr. John: The Montreux Years (BMG) here.
JazzWax clips: Here's Dr. John at Montreux in 2004 performing his hit, Right Place, Wrong Time...
Here's Dr. John and Johnny Winter in 1984...
And here's an hour of Dr. John playing New Orleans jazz piano...