"What happened to the Liberty Bell, I heard so much about?" he inquired in "Who's Gonna Help Brother Get Further?" "Did it really ding-dong? It must have dinged wrong, it didn't ding long." He was keenly aware of the world around him yet his lyrics were as graceful as his pianistic style. Compassion was deeply ingrained in Toussaint's sophisticated yet piercingly direct and accessible songwriting so was a firm spirituality. Indeed, Toussaint was one of the most public faces of his beloved city in the aftermath of Katrina yet rather than focusing on himself, the writer of such anthemic, empathetic songs as "Freedom for the Stallion" and "Victims of the Darkness" tirelessly crusaded for the welfare of others. "I heard myself say, 'I'm so very sorry.' Allen paused for moment, nodded his acknowledgment, and then added, 'Well, the things that I had then, they served me well.'" Backstage, Costello asked his friend what he knew of his weather-ravaged home and studio. He had performed at a number of benefits with Toussaint in the devastating wake of Hurricane Katrina the events of the tragedy would later inspire both artists to create The River in Reverse, a stirring tribute to the resilient spirit of the Crescent City. In his 2015 memoir, Costello recalled one particularly touching moment. His songs fit the diverse likes of Glen Campbell, Lowell George, Diana Ross, Tony Orlando and Dawn, The Pointer Sisters, Robert Palmer and Elvis Costello like a glove. Toussaint shared a special kinship with fellow New Orleans R&B legends including Ernie K-Doe, Lee Dorsey, Irma Thomas, Chris Kenner and Benny Spellman, but his music crossed all geographic, genre and generational lines. Yet the music of Allen Toussaint was also adaptable. His signature style was effortlessly funky, melding elegant, slyly knowing piano lines inspired by Professor Longhair with insinuating, sultry horns. Toussaint, who passed away suddenly last evening at the age of 77 while on tour in Europe, brought the music of New Orleans to the world stage. In a career spanning seven decades, Toussaint happily was able to do his own thing - as a pianist, composer, lyricist, arranger, conductor, orchestrator, producer, and recording artist. Studio Interview: Freedom for the StallionĪllen Toussaint experienced a late-career revival sparked, ironically enough, by the devastation of Hurricane Katrina in 2005.Studio Interview: Vocal Arranging/Mother-Inlaw.Studio Interview: Working in the Coal Mine.Studio Interview: Who's Gonna Help Brother Get Further.Certain Girl Medley: A Certain Girl/Mother-In-Law/Fortune Teller/Workin.Introduction to Get Out of My Life, Woman.Allen Toussaint once asked in song, "What is success? Is it doin' your own thing, or to join the rest?" The New Orleans native, of course, was well-acquainted with success, if ever mindful of its cost. Īllen Toussaint experienced a late-career revival sparked, ironically enough, by the devastation of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. He had to leave his hometown New Orleans after the hurricane, relocating to New York City where he started to play regular gigs at Joe's Pub and, soon enough, he cut The River in Reverse with Elvis Costello. That 2006 album propelled Toussaint toward a greater audience, leading to more headlining concerts, two of which are chronicled on Rounder's 2013 release Songbook. Recorded in 2009 at Joe's Pub, Songbook features nothing more than Toussaint alone at a piano running through songs he's written over the decades.
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