Jazz Articles about Allen Toussaint

Allen Toussaint: American Tunes

by Jakob Baekgaard
July 1, 2016

The mighty river of American songs flows in many different directions: blues, gospel, jazz and funk are part of the muddy water that makes up the music. Pianist, composer, arranger and record producer, Allen Toussaint, who sadly passed away in 2015, was an important part of the ongoing legacy of American music. He was one of the architects of New Orleans R & B, but his musical horizon was much broader than just a single genre. More ...

Allen Toussaint: American Tunes

by Mike Jacobs
June 11, 2016

When it comes to the jny: New Orleans sound and its purveyors, drummers may be the most integral, but the most celebrated are perhaps the pianists. Longhair, Booker, Rebbenack, Cleary, and even Fats Domino are all acknowledged to be in that pantheon. And certainly the name Toussaint has long been counted among them as well but, outside of New Orleans, more so by those in the know than the general public. This is partly because throughout his career, Toussaint's preferred ...

Allen Toussaint: The Bright Mississippi

by Joel Roberts
May 15, 2009

Pianist, writer, producer and arranger Allen Toussaint can justifiably be called a living legend. A member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, he helped define the New Orleans R&B sound of the '60s and '70s through his work with Lee Dorsey, Irma Thomas, The Meters and Dr. John, then went on to collaborate with rock giants like The Band, Paul Simon and Little Feat. He also produced the funk classic “Lady Marmalade" for LaBelle and wrote “Southern Nights," ...

Allen Toussaint: The Bright Mississippi

by Mike Perciaccante
May 8, 2009

When asked about Allen Toussaint, Van Dyke Parks once said, “he's the greatest pianist alive, only no one knows it... including him." High praise from one legend to another. With The Bright Mississippi, Toussaint has finally released a jazz-oriented album. Though jazz-influences can be found on many of his rock/funk sides as well as in many of the songs that he has written (including “Whipped Cream," which was morphed into the theme from The Dating Game), arranged and produced, this ...

Allen Toussaint and Preservation Hall Jazz Orchestra in London

by John Eyles
June 15, 2007

Allen Toussaint and Preservation Hall Jazz Orchestra The Barbican London, England June 4th, 2007

They say it is an ill wind that blows no-one any good. Well, Hurricane Katrina was certainly one of the illest winds ever to blow through New Orleans, leaving the city ruined and many thousands homeless. Allen Toussaint is one of those homeless, and is currently residing in New York City while his house is rebuilt. As for the ...

Allen Toussaint, et al. / Amadee Castenell (NYNO Records: Allen Toussaint and Various Artists

by C. Michael Bailey
July 1, 1999

Bon Ton NYNO. Contemporary Louisiana music is alive and well and being projected by the New York-based label NYNO Records. NYNO was founded in 1995, the brainchild of radio syndicator Josh Feigenbaum and pianist, composer, arranger, producer par excellence Allen Toussaint. The stated goal of the label is... “to record and distribute the roots and blues-oriented music of New Orleans...painting a musical portrait of the city.” Considered here are the sampler A Taste of New Orleans and the specific artist ...

Allen Toussaint & Friends: A New Orleans Christmas

by Jim Santella
October 1, 1998

The various artists that appear on this 1997 Christmas album make it a cross-genre collection of R&B, C&W, pop/rock, blues, and jazz items suitable for infusing that annual Christmas spirit. Lead vocalists for the lyric-oriented Yuletide favorites include Raymond Myles, Larry Hamilton, Tricia Boutte, Grace Darling, Wallace Johnson, and James Andrews.

With Allen Toussaint’s spirited piano accompaniment and a Satchmo-inspired trumpet introduction, James Andrews sings “Christmas in New Orleans." Andrews’ bright trumpet melodies and lively vocalizing warm the room, as ...