Only a decade before he played this gig in Chicago in 1976, Professor Longhair was what might be called—there’s no polite way to say it—a has-been. Although his piano style had influenced so many in New Orleans and beyond, from Allen Toussaint to Dr. John, work within the music industry had dried up for the man born Roy Byrd. He’d cut a number of influential tracks between the late ‘40s and the mid-‘60s, then slipped under the radar, toiling as a janitor to make ends meet until being rediscovered at the start of the following decade. Only then did Professor Longhair begin to receive the recognition he’d earned, recording his first proper album in 1979, before dying the following year. The eight tracks gathered up on this previously unreleased collection from the Chicago Folk Festival are consistent with other live Longhair performances that have surfaced over the years—backed by a sympathetic quartet, the chops were still in place as he delivered signature tunes like “Big Chief” and “Mardi Gras in New Orleans.” Perhaps the finale, a hard-rocking “Fess’s Boogie” spotlighting guitarist and album co-producer Billy Gregory, offers a hint as to where the Prof might’ve gone, but we’ll just have to be thankful we have what we have.