Music I Love: Allen Toussaint

Posted: April 8th, 2010 | Filed under: Culture, Music, Personalities | No Comments »

In a couple of weeks, my krewe will be heading down to the Crescent City, as we do annually, for JazzFest.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll repeat it once again: It’s the greatest 10 days of music anywhere on the planet.

Among the hundreds of acts that will appear — most from New Orleans and Louisiana, but many big names from hither and yon — the one I’m looking forward to hearing the most this time around is Allen Toussaint. (For the complete lineup, click here.)

I’ll get three opportunities to hear him. He’ll play the big stage with his R & B band. He’s playing the Jazz Tent, hopefully with the lineup that joined him on his marvelous last album, the Joe Henry-produced, “The Bright Mississippi.” And he’s playing a mid-week gig at Snug Harbor, to which The Film Babe and I have already scored tickets.

If you’re not immediately familiar with this music of this gentle giant of Crescent City sound, let me help.

He was a stalwart in the early days of rock & roll. Here he is doing a medley of some hits you might not identify with him.

Yes, kiddies it must be said, he’s the guy behind the Ernie K-Doe classic.

During the 70s, he released a sublime album that calms the savage beast within whenever I listen. Trust me, “Southern Nights” has saved me thousands of $$$ in therapy bills. To say it soothes would be understatement. If you can track down a copy, I advise you do so. (So too “The Bright Mississippi.”)

More than likely you identify the title tune “Southern Nights” with Glen Campbell.

Here it is as it’s supposed to sound. Pristine. You can see the full moon and smell the magnolias in the humid southern night.

Toussaint’s influence is far and wide. My sense is few understand how much music we love he has created. The horn charts used by the The Band on their famous songs. Allen Toussaint wrote ‘em.

And, oh yes, this is his song.

Oh yeah. A bunch of Little Feat tunes: Allen Toussaint. Okay, one more. Check this out.

Enough is enough. You get the point. Allen Toussaint is the unknown genius of contemporary popular music. Period. End of argument.

So, anyway, I’m listening to Toussaint today, and fighting my way through trying to learn some of his songs on the piano, despite the fact that they are way beyond my novice abilities, and waiting anxiously to hear him yet again live and experiencing his genteel genius and confirming yet again how grateful I am that I’ve discovered the power of his musical creativity.

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