Mo’ Fess isn’t a Professor Longhair tribute band. It is Professor Longhair’s former band. Four Mo’ Fess band members—drummer Earl Gordon, bassist Reggie Scanlan, saxophonist Tony DaGradi and conga player Alfred “Uganda” Roberts—performed with the ingeniously idiosyncratic pianist and vocalist. Singer-pianist Tom Worrell joins them in Mo’ Fess, filling Longhair’s spot with uncanny accuracy.

Mo’ Fess initially came togeth...