we saw: Allen Toussaint

This past week, Blue Note Jazz Club hosted Nawlins R&B legend Allen Toussaint for a string of ten sold out shows in the heart of Greenwich Village. We were lucky enough to catch the final performance last night, and were enraptured by his funky set of soulful pop that had us grooving in our seats. Toussaint has worn many different hats over his career, including producer, songwriter, arranger, session pianist, solo artist, and entertainer. And last night's show was entertaining to say the least, as he mixed together originals and covers while weaving in humorous and heartfelt stories about his life and music. We only wished that he could have played longer, but he did mention that he will likely be back next year. Not to be missed.

Allen Toussaint- Brickyard Blues (live)
Allen Toussaint- Southern Nights (live)

Bobkast #8: A Lil Something Something

"I Hate California Girls"

Just a lil something something to keep you warm as the new year settles. A lil funk, a lil soul, a lil country, a lil retro rock, some reggae and a new Magnetic Fields song. Yee-haw. Warm wishes from the Bobka crew

Bobkast #8: A Lil Something Something
1. Lee Dorsey- Yes, We Can
2. Friends & Lover- Reach Out of the Darkness
3. Allen Toussaint- Night People
4. Herman's Hermits- I'm Into Something Good
5. The Magnetic Fields- California Girls
6. The Limes- Beyond Blue
7. Madlib- Mystic Bounce
8. Lord Rhaburn- More Love Reggae
9. Jacob Miller- Curly Locks
10. The Kinks- Waterloo Sunset
11. Bob Dylan & The Band- Ain't No More Cane
12. Emmylou Harris & Ricky Skaggs- Darkest Hour is Right Before Dawn
13. Jenny Lewis & the Watson Twins- Rise Up with Fists!!!
14. Dr. Dog- Mystery to Me
15. The Clientele- Bookshop Casanova
16. Belle & Sebastian- Asleep on a Sunbeam
17. John Phillips- Holland Tunnel
18. Neil Young- Cripple Creek Ferry
19. Grizzly Bear- Deep Blue Sea (Daniel Rossen home recording re-edit)

Bobkast #8: A Lil Something Something {direct link; right click to download}

masters: Allen Toussaint

"Crescent City Soul"

A while back we posted on the sweet soulful sounds of Loozyana's (Louisiana for the uninitiated) pony ridin' singer Lee Dorsey. While Dorsey is a classick in his own right, his career, and many others in the Bayou, wouldn't have amounted to much without the help of Mr. Allen Toussaint. Toussaint is widely regarded as the king of Nawlin's R&B, a title he earned through years of hard work as producer, songwriter, arranger, session pianist, solo artist and general Nawlin's Soul ambassador and impresario. For proof of Toussaint's uncanny knack for funky sweet horn arrangements, check out "Baby Don't You Do It" from The Band's Rock of Ages. Also, get down on the King of the Crescent City's solo work; "Am I Expecting too Much?" a bouncy bayou rhythm and blues number and "Night People," which cranks the FUNK with a rhythmicly irresistible organ riff capable of making the whitest white people dance. Toussaint has the Bayou version of the Midas touch: whatever he touches turns to hot sticky soulful rhythm and blues, and boy is it sweet. For a good intro to Toussaint's classick American music check out Allen Toussaint The Complete Warner Bros. Recordings.

Allen Toussaint- Night People
Allen Toussaint- Am I Expecting Too Much?

The Band- Baby Don't You Do It