ISSUE #30 MMUSICMAG.COM ISSUE #30 MMUSICMAG.COM MUSICIAN Why is this your first live album? Growing up in New Orleans, were you ESSENTIAL TOUSSAINT I’d just never felt previous performances a big fan of jazz? were at a level worth recording. But a couple As much as New Orleans is noted for jazz, of people who heard my shows in New York I got off into funk. Jazz songs are lovely, but Allen Toussaint, 1971 thought it would be a good idea. I didn’t play a lot from beginning to end, Allen Toussaint recorded and not nearly as many as it would take to his first solo album in How did you select the songs? do an album. 1958, but this self-titled I have a few things I always put in my effort more than a dozen show, including a medley of songs that Did Katrina affect your work? years later heralded his were popular. But then sometimes other It actually helped because it put me on the emergence. With an ace team of musicians, folks give me their thoughts on what I road. It put me out there to collaborate with Toussaint deftly matches his easygoing should add from my repertoire, including others and travel more. That brought about demeanor with deep soul on tracks like “What Is songs I had forgotten all about. Also, I do a inspiration I would never have had. I used to Success” and “Everything I Do Gonna Be Funky.” couple of songs I didn’t write—I think that’s write mostly in one place and just from my good for variety. imagination. But traveling the world, you get Southern Nights, 1975 so much more inspiration. So Katrina was a The title track, recorded What makes a good song? huge blessing for me, and my music. by Glen Campbell, is one I like a good story. I don’t consider myself of Toussaint’s best-known a virtuoso vocalist so I prefer a fairly simple What did you hear growing up? compositions, but his song—and if there’s a pretty song, I like The radio had a lot of hillbilly music with own version is decidedly that too. I’ve done “American Tune” by Paul saloon-type piano, and of course I heard different. The rest, more pop-leaning than his gospel, which was absolutely wonderful. earlier output, is nonetheless soulful, and fits Then, late in the evening I would hear boogie- snugly between what label mates the Meters woogie on the radio, and I just thought that and Randy Newman were releasing at the time. ‘From that first was most exciting. My mother was a classical buff, and on Sundays she would listen all The River in Reverse, touch of the piano, day. So I was well rounded as far as hearing 2006 things. And when I was very young I heard This post-Katrina Glade Bilby Professor Longhair. collaboration between this is all I ever Elvis Costello and Did you emulate his piano style? Allen Toussaint works II wanted to do.’ I had to be sort of a chameleon so I tried to especially well on multiple levels. Featuring play everything. Much of my piano is from four new songs written together, an update of a Simon, which is one of the most beautiful [Longhair’s nickname] Fess, because I’m a Professor Longhair tune, and originals penned songs ever done. If it’s to be an uptempo Fess disciple. But I do know that there are separately by each, it’s a seamless blend song, I like a groove that holds its own. I like some things that I’ve recorded and written throughout. Joe Henry produced the record, ALLEN TOUSSAINT uplifting songs. But I don’t like “dictator” and done that are far removed from him. which features Costello’s band, the Imposters. songs—one that shakes its fist at you. At 75, the New Orleans music icon releases his first live album When did you know that you wanted to The Bright Mississippi, Know a hit when you’ve written it? create music? 2009 By Jeff Tamarkin No way do I ever know that. Some songs I I first sat down at the piano when I was 6. On Toussaint’s second may feel are better for what I consider the I had a wonderful time as a child trying to Henry-produced set, he FOR MORE THAN A HALF-CENTURY, ALLEN TOUSSAINT City until it was safe to return—decided to bring his own music artistic value, or something special in it. But learn these pieces and get simple melodies teams with top-shelf jazz has reigned as contemporary music’s Renaissance man. As a directly to audiences on a more widespread basis. as far as whether it’s going to have public out. By 12, I actually began writing songs players like Don Byron songwriter alone, his output is legendary—classics such as “Mother- Toussaint furthers that mission with the release of his new appeal or be around awhile, never do I know with lyrics. From that first touch of the piano, and Brad Mehldau on vintage blues and jazz in-Law,” “Get Out of My Life, Woman,” “Yes We Can Can,” “Working record, Songbook, recorded in the cozy environs of Joe’s Pub in such a thing. this is all I ever wanted to do. tracks including “St. James Infirmary” and “Day in the Coal Mine,” and “On Your Way Down” all came from his pen. New York City. In this intimate solo setting, Toussaint’s performance Dream.” The Monk-penned title track is about Glen Campbell turned Toussaint’s “Southern Nights” into a pop is warm and compelling with the album featuring versions of his most You do it all—what’s your favorite? How did you place your early hits? as “out” as Toussaint’s ever ventured on his and country smash. And artists as diverse as Bonnie Raitt, Ringo popular hits, lesser-known tunes, and favorites by other writers. I’d say writing songs, arranging and playing By the time I got “Mother-in-Law” to Ernie chosen instrument. Starr, Jerry Garcia, Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, Warren Zevon, At 75, there’s no slowing down Toussaint. He’s collaborated piano—the behind-the-scenes things. K-Doe, he was with Minit Records, and Minit Alex Chilton, Herb Alpert, the Yardbirds, the Band—and dozens with the likes of Elvis Costello and Paul McCartney, has been Performing would be very last. had hired me to be their music person. I got Rolling With the more—have interpreted his compositions. inducted into three halls of fame—Rock and Roll, Blues and songs to artists like Ernie and Irma Thomas Punches: The Allen Toussaint is also a respected, in-demand producer, arranger Louisiana—and in July was awarded the National Medal of Arts by How did your album with Elvis Costello that way. Toussaint Songbook, and session pianist—and has recorded prolifically as a solo artist President Obama at the White House. So what’s left—perhaps writing come about? 2012 since the late 1950s. But until recent years live performances were music for a Twyla Tharp ballet? “That’s a whole other world for me,” Elvis told me he always wanted to do Do you have a preferred writing method? Allen Toussaint’s legend relatively scarce. It wasn’t until Hurricane Katrina devastated his he says. “Next I’d like to do something in the classical bag. At some an Allen Toussaint songbook. I was all I collect scraps and ideas everywhere I go, and was built on his songs, home city of New Orleans that Toussaint—relocating to New York point I’m sure I will.” for it. He chose many of the songs I had I try to put them down in one form or another. which have been covered by a vastly diverse written, some I had totally forgotten—and I do it all the time, and I don’t need to be near array of artists. This 24-track import collection we even wrote songs together, which was a piano. I make a note, or if I have a small features many of the best—Warren Zevon, ‘I don’t consider myself a virtuoso vocalist so I prefer quite a luxury. Collaborating with Elvis recorder—or these days, even a cellphone—I the Judds, the Pointer Sisters, Boz Scaggs, a fairly simple song.’ was really magical. put the idea down, and start it there. Solomon Burke and more. 62 63 M mag 30.indd 62 10/12/13 9:02 AM M mag 30.indd 63 10/12/13 9:02 AM ISSUE #30 MMUSICMAG.COM ISSUE #30 MMUSICMAG.COM MUSICIAN Skip Bolen/WireImage Onstage in New Orleans, 2010 ‘I collect scraps and ideas everywhere UNDER THE COVERS I go and try to put them down in one The list of Allen Toussaint songs covered by others is long and distinguished. Here are the form or another.’ tales behind three, as told by the composer. Favorite cover of one of your songs? recording studio. He was a wonderful man, “Mother-in-Law” I dearly love what happened with Glen very intelligent with a marvelous sense of (Ernie K-Doe, 1961) Campbell and “Southern Nights.” I never humor. We stayed at two tracks for quite a “Back then comedians used the mother-in- imagined it would be a mainstream kind of while. When I first went in I could remember law [joke] more than any other subject.