JazzFest Extra: My Moment With Toussaint

Posted: April 25th, 2010 | Filed under: Music, Personalities | No Comments »

I have written a number of times previously about my love for Allen Toussaint,  the gentle and genteel man and his music which is the essence 0f New Orleans.

Here’s a link to the piece I wrote about his album, “Southern Nights.”

Here’s another that includes several of this songs.

And, finally, my take on his last album, the Joe Henry produced “The Bright Mississippi.”

I’m not sure if I’ve written about how smitten my piano teacher Chris Bizianes has become with Toussaint’s “Tipitina and Me,” which is featured on the post-Katrina “Our New Orleans.” I am trying to learn a simplified version of the tune. Fitfully. After Chris transcribed the song note for note, measure for measure.

So, you can imagine my heart rate when yesterday morning, I ran into Allen Toussaint in the lobby of our hotel here in New Orleans.

When engaging him in conversation, I desired to keep my cool, but am afraid I did start blabbering a bit. The foibles of abject fandom most always rear their head at inopportune moments.

I mentioned my teacher, the transcription, my Facebook communications with Joe Henry, my love for his music and what it means to me, how I was trying to learn the song. Probably without taking a breath. And allowing Allen only enough conversation space to nod and say thank you.

I told him Joanie and I have tickets to see him this week at Snug Harbor.

As we parted with a handshake, he turned and mentioned, “I was in the studio with Joe this week.”

“Yes, I know. With Aaron Neville. Are you all doing an album?”

“Gospel.”

“That will be great.”

Shaking my hand again, he asked, “Now tell me your name?”

I was immediately five years old.

But full with the satisfaction that I could impart to this man of incredible talent and quiet grace how much serenity and joy his music and performances have brought me through the decades.

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