[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhYyFnFPhBg[/youtube]

With the next round of Mardi Gras parades resuming tomorrow, it’s time to put up a stone cold classic. This recently-found video shows piano legend Professor Longhair performing Earl King’s Mardi Gras anthem “Big Chief” at the 1973 Montreux Jazz Festival. Despite its status now, though, in last year’s Mardi Gras issue Jeff Hannusch wrote that the song was about King’s mom—not the head of a Mardi Gras Indian tribe you might expect. He had written it as a teenager in high school, never recording it until later in his career with Fess.

Longhair has a full band backing him here, with drums, bass, guitar, congas and even organ in the mix. Fess was known for using his legs a lot when he played, and you can see some of his footwork around the 1:50 mark.

Read about Professor Longhair in our Masters of LA Music Series