Allen Toussaint’s final recordings will be released as ‘American Tunes’ in June.
‘American Tunes’ will feature songs from Toussaint, Professor Longhair, Duke Ellington, Fats Waller, Paul Simon, and others. Jay Bellerose, Bill Frisell, Rhiannon Giddens, Greg Leisz, Charles Lloyd, David Piltch, and Van Dyke Parks join Toussaint on Joe Henry-produced American Tunes.
The legendary New Orleans singer, songwriter and producer had just completed the album when he passed away last November.
Toussaint’s children, Alison Toussaint-LeBeaux and Clarence Reginald Toussaint, who have long served as their father’s managers, said of the American Tunes album, “Our father approached this project with great care and understanding of the songs selected and paid true homage to Professor Longhair, his musical hero. He wanted to bring as much of the Toussaint touch as he could to these wonderful classics.”
The June release will be preceded with ‘The Complete Warner Recordings’ from Rhino on May 13.
ALSO BY ALLEN TOUSSAINT THE COMPLETE WARNER RECORDINGS
2 disc set featuring Allen Toussaint’s 3 solo albums: ‘Life, Love and Faith’, ‘Southern Nights’ & ‘Motion’ plus live rare recordings housed in a jewel case with a 24 page booklet.
ALLEN TOUSSAINT American Tunes
1. Delores’ Boyfriend
Allen Toussaint
2. Viper’s Drag
Thomas “Fats” Waller
3. Confessin’ (That I Love You)
Doc Daugherty, Ellis Reynolds & Al Neiburg
4. Mardi Gras in New Orleans
Henry Roeland “Roy” Byrd (Professor Longhair)
5. Lotus Blossom
Billy Strayhorn
6. Waltz for Debby
Bill Evans
7. Big Chief
Earl King
8. Rocks in My Bed
Duke Ellington
9. Danza, op. 33
Louis Moreau Gottschalk
10. Hey Little Girl
Henry Roeland “Roy” Byrd
11. Rosetta
Earl “Fatha” Hines
12. Come Sunday
Duke Ellington
13. Southern Nights
Allen Toussaint
14. American Tune
Paul Simon
15. Her Mind Is Gone *
Henry Roeland “Roy” Byrd
16. Moon River *
Henry Mancini & Johnny Mercer
17. Bald Head *
Henry Roeland “Roy” Byrd
*Vinyl LP bonus tracks
Special guests:
Rhiannon Giddens, vocals (Come Sunday, Rocks in My Bed)
Van Dyke Parks, second piano (Danza, Southern Nights) and orchestral arrangement (Danza)
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