Songbook cover

Songbook

Released

A reluctant performer for most of his career, Toussaint opened up in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Displaced from his home and studio, Toussaint decamped for New York City, at one point performing weekly at Joe’s Pub. This set, recorded there in 2009, finds the man stripped back to basic building blocks: his smooth, ageless voice and his piano. The early ‘70s swagger of “Who’s Gonna Help Brother Get Further” gets stripped down and is all the more poignant for it. His way with the ivories is living history, alighting on ragtime, stride, and boogie-woogie, but wholly in the present, wowing a 21st century crowd.

Andy Beta

Recommended by

Suggestions
Minute by Minute cover

Minute by Minute

The James Hunter Six
"Mule" cover

"Mule"

Henry Townsend
My True Story cover

My True Story

Aaron Neville
Nick of Time cover

Nick of Time

James Hunter
Life Happens cover

Life Happens

Candi Staton
Emma Jean cover

Emma Jean

The Expressions, Lee Fields
Ya! Ya! cover

Ya! Ya!

Lee Dorsey
Toussaint cover

Toussaint

Allen Toussaint