ALLEN TOUSSAINT
CONNECTED
NYNO - 9601
available on
amazon
might try NYNO as well
Allen Toussaint is a name that draws up all those great memories of the dances and make-out sessions that I took part in with those R & B records blaring as I cruised through the adolescent years in the 50's and 60's where I had to search the radio dial to find 'the music' that had the beat and grit that the doughy white bread drivel that was being passed off as music . His name became synonymous with New Orleans music, even though he didn't seem to 'do' the records his name was down as producer, arranger, or writer on most everything I liked or remember from that time, by artists such as Ernie K. Doe or Irma Thomas. This is his first studio album in at least a decade, and it is a very worthy effort that contains songs, all of which he wrote, that seem to be a mix of old and new (if not in age at least in feel). He is supported by an extremely worthy cast of the finest of New Orleans musicians.
I have to admit a strong preference for his more funky material like FUNKY BARS, AHYA, and the rolling gait of OH MY to his much softer pieces that require a more versatile voice. There are times when his voice doesn't have that reaching pain for instance that Aaron Neville gave to WRONG NUMBER. On most cuts his easy delivery style is just what is called for, and his rollicking piano is always perfectly matched to the song. This is not a disc of memories, though it may bring up a few, it is fresh new funk and roll from the city where American music has always stretched to new levels.
Songs and Players - All songs written by Allen Toussaint
1. PURE UNCUT LOVE -
Allen Toussaint - piano, vocals
Scott Goodeau - guitar, Chris Severin - Bass, Bernard "Bunchy" Johnson - drums, Bill Summers - percussion, Suzanne Bonseigneur and Ed Roussell - background vocal
2. DO THE DO
Allen Toussaint - piano, vocals
Scott Goodeau - guitar, Russell Batiste - drums, Roland Guerin - bass, Brian Cayolle - baritone sax, Amadee Castenell - tenor sax, Jamil Sharif - trumpet, Tricia Boutte, Suzanne Bonseigneur and Ed Roussell - background vocal
3. COMPUTER LADY -
Allen Toussaint - Fender Rhodes, percussion, vocals
Scott Goodeau - guitar, Chris Severin - Bass, Bernard "Bunchy" Johnson - drums, Bill Summers - percussion, Suzanne Bonseigneur and Ed Roussell - background vocal
4. GET OUT OF MY LIFE, WOMAN
Allen Toussaint - piano, synthesizer
Scott Goodeau - guitar, Chris Severin - Bass, Bernard "Bunchy" Johnson - drums, Edward Reed - baritone sax, Fred Kemp - tenor sax, Stacy Cole - trumpet
5. WE'RE ALL CONNECTED
Allen Toussaint - piano, synthesizers, vocal
Scott Goodeau - guitar, Roland Guerin - bass, Russell Batiste - drums, Clarence "Reginald" Toussaint - percussion, Amadee Castenell - tenor sax, Jamil Sharif - trumpet, Tricia Boutte, Suzanne Bonseigneur and Ed Roussell - background vocal
6. SWEET DREAMS
Allen Toussaint - piano, synthesizers, Fender Rhodes, vocal
Tricia Boutte - vocals, Scott Goodeau - guitar, Roland Guerin - bass, Russell Batiste - drums, Clarence "Reginald" Toussaint - percussion, Amadee Castenell - tenor sax, Jamil Sharif - trumpet, Tricia Boutte, Suzanne Bonseigneur and Ed Roussell - background vocal
7. FUNKY BARS
Allen Toussaint - piano
Sammy Berfect - organ, Scott Goodeau - guitar, Roland Guerin - bass, Russell Batiste - drums, Clarence "Reginald" Toussaint - percussion, Amadee Castenell - tenor sax, Jamil Sharif - trumpet, Tricia Boutte, Suzanne Bonseigneur and Ed Roussell - background vocal
8. AHYA
Allen Toussaint - piano, synthesizers, vocal
Sammy Berfect - organ, Scott Goodeau - guitar, Chris Severin - bass, Herman Lebeaux - drums, Clarence "Reginald" Toussaint - percussion, Brian Cayolle - Baritone sax, Amadee Castenell - tenor sax, Gary Brown - alto sax, Jamil Sharif - trumpet, Tricia Boutte, Suzanne Bonseigneur and Ed Roussell - background vocal
9. IF I LEAVE
Allen Toussaint - piano, synthesizers, vocal
Sammy Berfect - organ, Scott Goodeau - guitar, Roland Guerin - bass, Russell Batiste - drums, Clarence "Reginald" Toussaint - percussion, Amadee Castenell - tenor sax, Jamil Sharif - trumpet, flugelhorn, Tricia Boutte, Suzanne Bonseigneur and Ed Roussell - background vocal
10. AIGN NYEE
Allen Toussaint - piano, vocals
Scott Goodeau - guitar, Roland Guerin - bass, Russell Batiste - drums, Clarence "Reginald" Toussaint - percussion, Amadee Castenell - tenor sax, Jamil Sharif - trumpet, Brian Cayolle - Baritone sax, Tomika Goffner, Tanya Ellsworth, Terri De Gruy, Suzanne Bonseigneur and Ed Roussell - background vocal
11. IN YOUR LOVE
Allen Toussaint - piano, synthesizers, vocal
Scott Goodeau - guitar, Chris Severin - bass, Herman Lebeaux - drums, Bill Summers - percussion, Gary Brown - alto and tenor saxophones, Suzanne Bonseigneur, Ed Roussell and the Apostolic Outreach Choir - background vocal
12. OH MY
Featuring special guest Dave Bartholomew on trumpet
Allen Toussaint - piano, vocals
Dave Bartholomew on trumpet solo
Scott Goodeau - guitar, Chris Severin - Bass, Bernard "Bunchy" Johnson - drums, Edward Reed - baritone sax, Fred Kemp - tenor sax, Stacy Cole - trumpet, Suzanne Bonseigneur and Ed Roussell - background vocal
13. ALL OF IT
Allen Toussaint - piano
Leo Nocentelli - guitar, Chris Severin - bass, Russell Batiste - drums, Bill Summers - percussion
14. WRONG NUMBER
Allen Toussaint - piano, synthesizers, Fender Rhodes, vocal
Scott Goodeau - guitar, Roland Guerin - bass, Russell Batiste - drums, Tricia Boutte, Suzanne Bonseigneur and Ed Roussell - background vocal
15. ROLLING WITH THE PUNCHES
Allen Toussaint - piano, synthesizers
Scott Goodeau - guitar, Chris Severin - bass, J.R. Branch - synthesizer, Bernard "Bunchy" Johnson - drums
Produced by Allen Toussaint and Clarence "Reginald" Toussaint