Artist Lounge: Allen Toussaint
Moggers' favorites by Allen Toussaint
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Allen Toussaint's funk is infused with his New Orleans heritage. This is funk from the swamp, languid, humid, dark but light on it's feet.
His horn charts, always tasteful, here add to gumbo feel, related to ska but worlds removed.
This is not the frantic funk of the disco, no, this is the funk of the dance-barn, the fish-fry, the Friday night dance at the edge of town.
By the time Allen Toussaint recorded this 1971 LP he was already a New Orleans R&B legend, first as a pianist, then as an arranger and soon thereafter as a songwriter and producer. Under both his own name and his nom de plume "Naomi Neville," Toussaint spun off a string of hits that turned the rhythms of New Orleans into R&B icons, including Ernie K. Doe's "Mother in Law," Benny Spellman's "Fortune Teller," and Lee Dorsey's "Ya Ya" and "Working in the Coal Mine." His songs... MORE
Never breaks a sweat. Has so much musical knowledge stored inside him that he instinctively knows the right note or the right touch in any situation. Rarely missteps. I'm going through a period - immature, I know - that if it doesn't have Allen Toussaint's hand in it, I'm just not all that interested. When he sings, "Everything I do gonna be funky from now on," even with that touch of deadpan self-mockery (especially with that touch of deadpan self-mockery), I believe ... MORE
I will be back next year...I promise New Orleans. Meanwhile, I will have to settle for checking out Allen Toussaint from my computer on Sunday at:
http://attblueroom.com/inc_event_mediaplayer/index.php
Enjoy!
Le Show is an amazing program on KCRW out here. This weekend he had a rebroadcast of an interview with Allen Toussaint who played some music and also talked about his career. A few great quotes about working with The Meters.
You can download the podcast at harryshearer.com Go to Le Show and search for Allen Toussaint. You can try clicking here too: http://play.rbn.com/?url=livecon/kcrw/g2demand/ls/ls040905le_Show.rm&start=0.6&proto=rtsp
Enjoy!
One of the best musical collections of all time...Allen is a phenomenal songwriter and musician. The arrangements are stellar and it's just great music to snap your fingers do, great melodies to hum along with and the beat is irrestible. No record collection should be without it.
this comp, titled "finger poppin' and stompin' feet," is a collection of early 60's new orleans r&b produced by allen toussaint (genius). it is an absolute blast to listen to. it will put you in a great mood and remind you why you like music in the first place. i've been playing it repeatedly the past few days.







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