For fans of New Orleans, or jazz and R&B piano, or singer-songwriter genius, or just great American music, Rounder Records has something special coming out Sept. 24: Allen Toussaint’s Songbook, a CD and CD/DVD set featuring the Crescent City ambassador in a solo setting. The performances were captured at Joe’s Pub in Manhattan in 2009, and the DVD includes a live set plus a 25-minute in-studio interview. As Ashley Kahn’s liner notes point out, Joe’s was essential to the rebirth of Toussaint’s career following his post-Katrina relocation to New York from New Orleans. Songbook isn’t the only big news for Toussaint of late; in July President Obama awarded him a National Medal of Arts.
JazzTimes is proud to premiere this clip of “Who’s Gonna Help Brother Get Further?” from the DVD:
Track listing for the CD/DVD set:
CD:
1. It’s Raining
2. Lipstick Traces
3. Brickyard Blues
4. With You in Mind
5. Who’s Gonna Help Brother Get Further?
6. Sweet Touch of Love
7. Holy Cow
8. Get Out of My Life, Woman
9. Freedom for the Stallion
10. St. James Infirmary
11. Shrimp Po Boy (Dressed)
12. Soul Sister
13. All These Things
14. We Are America/Yes We Can
15. Optimism Blues
16. Old Records Certain Girl Medley: Certain Girl/Mother-in-Law/Fortune Teller/Working in a Coal Mine
17. New Orleans Thing
18. Crawfish, Everyday
19. No Place Like New York
20. Southern Nights
DVD:
1. It’s Raining
2. Lipstick Traces
3. Brickyard Blues
4. With You in Mind
5. Who’s Gonna Help Brother Get Further?
6. Sweet Touch of Love
7. Holy Cow
8. Get Out of My Life, Woman
9. St. James Infirmary
10. Shrimp Po Boy (Dressed)
11. Soul Sister
12. All These Things
13. We Are America/Yes We Can
14. Old Records
15. Lover of Love
16. Certain Girl Medley: Certain Girl/Mother-in-Law/Fortune Teller/Working in a Coal Mine
17. New Orleans Thing
18. Crawfish, Everyday
19. No Place Like New York
20. Southern Nights
21. Freedom for the Stallion
Originally Published
