“Big Chief” (PDF) from the Rebirth Brass Band album, Feel Like Funkin’ It Up

New Orleans guitarist Earl King wore many masks. Born Earl Silas Johnson IV, he established himself as a blues king in the 1950s by faithfully imitating his musical idols, even presenting himself as Guitar Slim after the hitmaker was hospitalized and unable to complete his 1954 tour. King eventually donned the role of songwriter for other recording artists such as pianist Professor Longhair. Along with producer Wardell Quezergue, King’s original blues tune about the Mardi Gras Indians - Native Americans who aided the runaways of colonial enslavement - became one of the professor’s greatest hits, more so for Fess’ rhumba and drummer Smokey Johnson’s second-line rhythms. And despite his powerful whistling, King’s lead vocal performance is sung in a haphazardly-broken English that questions the intent of the “masking” traditions within New Orleans Mardi Gras culture.

Nonetheless, Rebirth Brass Band effortlessly translated the song’s Native influence into the parade culture of New Orleans. Featuring a trombone solo from the unmistakable Keith “Wolf” Anderson, Rebirth introduced the classic funk of New Orleans to the hip hop generation and cemented “Big Chief” as a brass band standard.

Here is a YouTube video of Rebirth trombonist Stafford Agee masking with the Black Feathers Mardi Gras Indians:

Recommended reading: Roll With It: Brass Bands in the Streets of New Orleans by Matt Sakakeeny. Published by Duke University Press