So I will shake some of that Monday hippy out of my weave and post a link from the glorious NPR. Hmm that seems weird to type...
Anyway, they are hooking the brothers and sisters up with a first listen to the White Stripes new concert album, Under Great White Northern Lights. Click here to Stream it!!!
I can not wait to grab this DVD/CD combo...and from the opening Bagpipes, I doubt it will be disappointing.
Friends have talked about doing a viewing party for this Thursday downtown so if that goes down I will have a review soon, if not in the next few weeks one will probably pop up. Currently The Stripes sit 3rd on my list of favorite Jack White projects, but my man crush on him is large enough to cover 5+ projects...so keep them coming Jack old boy.
While I was at the NPR site I stumbled across a new Chieftains album that they recorded with Ry Cooder and others. Irish and Mexicans teaming up? The Irish just love everybody don't they....hmm that reminds me the 17th is close....
With live music on lock down (like everything else currently in New York City) live streams and old concerts have become essential for live music junkies like RtBE. While this current state of pandemic separation is in order we will highlight various shows/streams/virtual events for your viewing and listening pleasure and you can always check out or weekly Full Show Friday series for concerts from the past. Please support the artists any which way you can.
Today we highlight: Tiny Desk/NPRglobalFEST - Night 1 of 4
NPR is delivering globalFEST over the next four nights starting at 8pm. Lots of good acts in the mix and it will be hosted by Angelique Kiddo:
With live music on lock down (like everything else currently in New York City) live streams and old concerts have become essential for live music junkies like RtBE. While this current state of pandemic separation is in order we will highlight various shows/streams/virtual events for your viewing and listening pleasure and you can always check out or weekly Full Show Friday series for concerts from the past. Please support the artists any which way you can.
Today we highlight: Shows from9:30 Club
The famous Washington D.C. venue, the 9:30 Club has partnered with NPR and put a ton of shows online for viewing/listening during these trying times and lots of RtBE Personal Favorites including Sleater-Kinney, Sonic Youth, The Raconteurs and The Soul Rebels have made the cut.
Check out this amazing list of shows, and thanks to Matt for the heads up. To get fired up here is some live Explosions in the Sky:
We search the murky back waters of youtube to find full concerts and post them to the site weekly, come back every seven days to help us celebrate Full Show Friday's. These shows are of varying quality and may not be here for long so enjoy them while you can...As always, please support the artist every which way, but especially by seeing them live (if they are still playing)...This week...TH1RT3EN!
Today we go for a shorter NPR Tiny Desk concert from hip hop/rock outfit TH1RT3EN who RtBEreviewed a few years back.
Pro shot, pro sound, full set list and more below. Enjoy:
The Tiny Desk is working from home for the foreseeable future. Introducing NPR Music's Tiny Desk (home) concerts, bringing you performances from across the country and the world. It's the same spirit — stripped-down sets, an intimate setting — just a different space.
Abby O'Neill | January 18, 2021
TH1RT3EN, an irreverent and inflammatory new trio conceived by hip-hop star and lyrical savage Pharoahe Monch, has been in the works for five years. Co-conspirators include Daru Jones, a monster on the drums best known for his work with Jack White, and guitar mercenary Marcus Machado. Both the moniker and supergroup were born out of a frustration with the veneer of American society that underestimates the darkness of white supremacy.
"I knew 5 years ago where we headed," Monch shared over the phone. "Sure, we've always done socially and politically aware music, but I'm tired of this "love will win" nonsense. Love may be the most powerful vibrating force, but consciousness is spreading and it's impossible not to be more aware of the evil that has kept the world in complete darkness. TH1RT3EN is the musical personification of me and my comrades at combat."
Shot in a padded "panic" room, this Tiny Desk (home) concert reflects the rage felt by this three-man battalion of rhythm and verbal artillery, shattering genre boundaries in the process. While TH1RT3EN recorded this set in August 2020, as evidenced by Monch's interlude, this four-song set still channels the discontent outside our windows today.
SET LIST
"The Magician"
"Cult 45"
"Scarecrow"
"Fight"
MUSICIANS
Pharoahe Monch: vocals
Marcus Machado: guitar
Daru Jones: drums
CREDITS
Video: Get a Grip Productions, Arianna Thibodeau, Rashad Frett, Josh Therriault
Audio: King of Chill
TINY DESK TEAM
Producer: Abby O'Neill
Video Producer: Maia Stern
Audio Mastering: Josh Rogosin
Associate Producer: Bobby Carter
Tiny Production Team: Bob Boilen, Kara Frame, Morgan Noelle Smith
Executive Producer: Lauren Onkey
Senior VP, Programming: Anya Grundmann
We search the murky back waters of youtube to find full concerts and post them to the site weekly, come back every seven days to help us celebrate Full Show Friday's. These shows are of varying quality and may not be here for long so enjoy them while you can...As always, please support the artist every which way, but especially by seeing them live (if they are still playing)...This week...Cypress Hill!
Enjoy the Tiny Desk concert from NPR studios by Cypress Hill. Full info on the session below:
Bobby Carter | July 20, 2023 The first thing I noticed as Cypress Hill strolled into NPR headquarters was Sen Dog cradling his signature bucket hat. I asked him if my assumptions were correct; it was indeed the original hat seen in all the videos from the early '90s. Before I could process that confirmation, B Real asked me, "Yo, is your greenroom a greenroom?" We got everything we expected and more from Cypress Hill at the Tiny Desk. While the term "pioneer" is used loosely in pop culture today, few terms describe Cypress Hill's impact over the past three decades more adequately. They are the first Latino hip-hop group to achieve platinum and multi-platinum status. B Real, Sen and producer DJ Muggs crafted a sound in the '90s that stretched beyond regional boundaries. It was dark, psychedelic and at times directly addressed mental health before the topic was commonplace. Many dismissed the group as "stoner rappers," yet the members were fervent advocates for the legalization of weed long before it came to fruition. Touring members Eric Bobo and DJ Lord joined the duo along with Money Mark from Beastie Boys fame. The band summoned a horn section to fill out this rare minimalist approach to five, funky Cypress Hill things. Between each song, B Real took his time to shed some historic light on the group's journey thus far.
SET LIST "When the S*** Goes Down" "Hand On the Pump" "How I Could Just Kill a Man" "(Rap) Superstar" "Insane in the Brain"
MUSICIANS B-Real: vocals Sen Dog: vocals Eric Bobo: drums DJ Lord: DJ Money Mark: keys Sam Koff: trumpet Reggie Pace: trombone John Hulley: trombone
TINY DESK TEAM Producer: Bobby Carter Director/Editor: Maia Stern Audio Engineer: Josh Rogosin Creative Director: Bob Boilen Videographers: Maia Stern, Joshua Bryant, Kara Frame, Sofia Seidel Audio Assistant: Hannah Gluvna Production Assistant: Ashley Pointer Photographer: Elizabeth Gillis Tiny Desk Team: Suraya Mohamed, Hazel Cills VP, Visuals and Music: Keith Jenkins Senior VP, Programming: Anya Grundmann
We search the murky back waters of youtube to find full concerts and post them to the site weekly, come back every seven days to help us celebrate Full Show Friday's. These shows are of varying quality and may not be here for long so enjoy them while you can...As always, please support the artist every which way, but especially by seeing them live (if they are still playing)...This week...Tori Amos
This Friday we have Tori Amos from 2012 playing for NPR in NYC.
a vital part of the fabric of American music, can finally be heard. Begun by Ernie Young in Nashville, TN, at the height of gospel's "golden age," Nashboro was arguably the greatest, most prolific and longest-living gospel record label. Initial recordings were made on site, overseen by Young himself. Those early Nashboro sides have all the excitement, energy and drive of far better-known indies from the 1950s such as Chess and Sun (indeed, Nashboro was parent to the infamous, blues-busting label Excello).
The songs are all brief, getting to the point, Young's patented sound, then fade out, I am sure the live versions went on and on. Some stand out tracks (all though we are still sifting through them all) are the passionate "Trouble of This World's Condition" by The Chosen Gospel Singers, the mixed gender vocals of "Give Me Some Flowers" by Sullivan Pugh, the groovy "I'm Battling" by The Sensational Pioneers and the swinging Trumpets of Joy doing "I Need The Lord To Guide Me".
Ethel Davenport's tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is stirring as well, opening the final disk I just wish it went on longer when it hit its "spiritual phase". This is a piece of history that focuses on amazing voices and soulful singing, Americana in the tubes.
With the bands last effort EmbryonicThe Flaming Lips mashed up sound pulses and whirring electro clicks into a messy soup that never really gelled. That idea of a strung together jumbled mess seems to be sticking with the band as The Terror continues the trend of just one long thought augmented by odd sounds and eerie vocals. Turns out this time around though things are even less interesting with tracks getting bogged down in repetitive sinkholes.
Opening with "Look..The Sun Is Rising" the track contains a scratching and scraping in the foreground with falsetto "ooh's and aah's" struggling to be heard behind the chaos, a trend that continues throughout. Figuring out what instruments, computer programs, electronics or sound effects are employed is impossible; there are zero guitar/drum/bass songs here and forget about a memorable single.
"Be Free, A Way" pulses with positive energy before drifting directly into questioning vibrations of "Try To Explain". Wayne Coyne has talked about this being his drug album and (perhaps in a good way for Coyne) it isn't as dark as one might expect, just a bit dull.
"You Lust" is the mid piece of the album clocking in at over 13 minutes with steam valve time keeping and meandering sounds. It has a touch of "The End" to it, but mostly "You Lust" just circles about not really going anywhere exciting. "The Terror" possesses a dance beat behind swirling vocals and sounds making it one of the more interesting tracks along with "Butterly, How Long it Takes to Die" and "Turning Violent".
The closing "Always There...In Our Hearts" finally manages to mix up the tempo with some industrial sounds rising high but it's simply too little too late to save The Terror as a whole.
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We have loved the Flaming Lips since we saw them rock out on the second stage of Lollapalloza 94. As we mentioned in our 100 Best Albums of 00's the group is probably the most unlikely success story (this side of ICP, but that discussion is for another day) that is out there. We were very underwhelmed/disappointed with the groups last release so we were cautious about this one. By the way, I am not pissed at myself years later for not loving Embryonic turns out I was right.
The Terror is a complete flowing work but not one that is overly impressive. In fact it reminds us a lot of Embryonic and is a bit duller overall. Doubt we go back to this one in two years and love it either, and could easily see it landing on our disappointing list come year end. On the plus side the band can still kick major ass live.
You can grab the album here, you can stream it currently over at NPR for a limited time and you can peep some video samples below:
"Look...The Sun is Rising" Live on Letterman:
The young MC Marco Pave has expertly crafted a gripping debut album that is immersed in the past present and future of his hometown of Memphis, TN. Even the title speaks to the state of affairs as Pave has mentioned leaving "Graceland" without any vowels, "because the Grace is broken".
This is a full on concept album from teh bright new voice that grapples with the current cultural climate (including but not limited to: religion, protesting, struggling families, racism) as various impactful interludes remind you where exactly you are, 2017 Memphis, a complicated place and time. Pave is breathlessly confident whether he is dealing with killings, the police or social injustice and on "One Hunnid" he comes out blazing.
He increases the speed and direction with "Let Me Go" an album standout that manages to mix a sobering story about being treated as insignificant, a gospel church choir and his fiercest rapping on the album successfully. There is a lot going on on all of these tracks and immersing in the full album flow is needed for optimal enjoyment.
"Hood Obit" wonders about the lasting impact and what people will say and guest MC Dutchess steals the track about her working to raise to children. The song also contains a flaw in the album, while he brings in help for choruses (notably Zandria F Robinson) his singing and R&B tendencies need work.
What doesn't need any help is the design and production of the disk; even though it is 17 tracks long, it is never stagnant. Sons flow in and out with the quickness, built around, riffs, huge backing vocals and slapping beats. The production is top notch, incorporating the blues and rock history of the towns past with its hip hop present. "Gun Barrel" pumps hard, "Sacrfice" paints a scene around haunting keys, "Stupid Dhuum" slows down the pace to a crawl, "Neck Off" amps the tough guy swagger, while "Hold Us Down" is anthemic with its rebellious power.
The albums interludes are sequenced reminiscent of A Tribe Called QuestsMidnight Marauders but are much more vital to the overall album in the way Solange used them to add depth to Seat At The Table. It is the combo of these real world tales that are woven into musically fresh sounds with lyrical dexterity, all addressing massive issues that elevates Welcome To Grc Land and will push Pave directly onto the national scene.
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Support the artist, buy the album, stream it for a limited time on NPR, peep some video below:
The newest album from Brooklyn's Hospitality is a scattered affair that has mixes of dreamy art pop, 80's electro and stripped down Merseyside beat. Trouble as a whole might feel a bit disjointed but pieces can surprise and worm into the ear.
The trio (Amber Papini, Nathan Michel, Brian Betancourt) move around the musical dial with ease but have a hard time nailing down a specific sound. The opener "Nightingale" is an engaging track that starts off seesawing like a shanty with bending fish hook lyrics before a piano enters and things swell theatrically. "Sunship" later on the disk takes a similar path but inserts a flute into the mix.
Besides these two though things are mostly stripped down, like the back beating pop of "I Miss Your Bones" which recall's Dead or Alive's "You Spin Me Right Round (Like A Record)" via Papini's vocal delivery. Her vocal sound and lyrics are pining, for untrue lovers and fleeting thoughts, singing like Feist with a restrained delivery; pretty in a controlled way.
That stripped down feel doesn't work so well on tracks like "Inauguration" or the closing "Call Me After" which both feel like sketches that went unfinished. More successful is "Going Out" which puts the rhythm central via a descending bass line and hand drums while the simple straight up pop of "It's Not Serious" is a real winner. These tracks dealing with flippant relationships both stick around longer then the more nuanced efforts and prove the band has a knack for writing catchy songs.
The band injects lots of 80's love into things with the keyboard driven
"Rockets and Jets" and "Last Words" which pulses pushing electro keys
and ends with an intriguing guitar solo. This track in particular calls
to mind a less musically fluid Television as the band arts it up in
interesting ways. The nebulous feel of things points to Hospitality still finding their way, and it will be interesting to see where the muse takes them.
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This was a tough one to pin down, certain things stood out as great, others fell flat. Well hit or miss ain't bad. Oh and I love NPR, but if this album feels "more leather jacket" then the reviewer needs to get out and feel some meaty rock and roll.
We search the murky back waters of youtube to find full concerts and post them to the site weekly, come back every seven days to help us celebrate Full Show Friday's. These shows are of varying quality and may not be here for long so enjoy them while you can...As always, please support the artist every which way, but especially by seeing them live (if they are still playing)...This week...Yuck!
This week we go back to the alt-rock of Yuck in 2011. This tour came after their debut release which RtBE reviewed. Check out the pro-shot, pro-sound, set list below. Enjoy!
Even though it is just about freezing in the Big Apple today a major sign that summer will soon be upon us arrived. SummerStage announced their full schedule:
There are one or two shows we always hit at this venue each year and expect this year will be no different with tasty treats on this list (full list for all NYC venues also below) and have seen everyone from the Beastie Boys to Phil Lesh (and Crew)to Manu Chao at the Rumsey Playfield in Central Park.
We are looking at some shows that can hopefully match those gems. Click on the Read More Tab for the full list sorted by genre.
On the Toronto, CA based trios first albumMetz slammed with heavy noise and from the replicated cover art and numeric title you probably figured correctly that more of the same is coming to assault your eardrums on II.
The cover art for both the bands albums have people who look like they are in pain, heads down slumped over; pretty accurate description the the thumping contained within. The disk opener "Acetate" blisters the speakers/headphones while "Landfill" puts that power into more of a song form and "Eyes Peeled" cooks up a storm with one of the few album guitar solos.
Booming drums and metallic groove kick off "Spit You Out" with angst and
swagger acting as the closest thing to a single the band can offer and "Wait In Line" takes a verse chorus approach as well but isn't as successful. On this release it is "The Swimmer" that once again brings an industrial edge to the chaos with it's repetitive clangs in the vein of Ministry.
Even their quirky (some would say pointless) instrumentals are still here ("Zzyzx") but the group does show a bit more song oriented leanings such as the jangle of "I.O.U" which has a touch of Pixie noise pop shimmer. "Nervous System" packs a huge punch into it's two minutes run time, giving a schizophrenic power to the punk.
It is fitting this band is on Sub Pop as their number one clear cut influence is Bleach era Nirvana, so much so it took great restraint not to mention it until now. II (like the self titled debut) could masquerade as outtakes from that famous groups pre fame era.
While Metz slightly expand on their sound with a few keyboards, and tape loops the crux of Metz force is in their searing straight ahead repetitive punk noise slamming. Kurt and company would be proud, well, before they teamed with Butch Vig I guess.
___________________________________________________________If you liked the first one, and we did, you will dig this one.
We search the murky back waters of youtube to find full concerts and post them to the site weekly, come back every seven days to help us celebrate Full Show Friday's. These shows are of varying quality and may not be here for long so enjoy them while you can...As always, please support the artist every which way, but especially by seeing them live (if they are still playing)...This week...Vince Staples!
This week we return to 2016 with a set from Vince Staples who had established himself on the scene. Back in 2014 when Mr. Staples was an up and coming rapper who was just starting to gain national attention in the hip hop community and beyond RtBEreviewed his first EP Hell Can Wait. Our favorite tune from that is the second one performed here, "'65 Hunnid".
I have been a mega fan of Shorty's after being blown away by his set back at Jazzfest in '08. I have seen him a bunch and written about him almost as much, simply put I can not recommend his music highly enough.
Go see him live as often as you can you will not be disappointed, I promise you.
All that said this album seems to be a natural extension of his last release, Backatown, in fact it is almost the same thing, high praise, since his last album was really top shelf. The man seems to have an endless supply of fantastic instrumentals and the unique ability to get the hips shaking from the first notes he blows. Some bigger and badder guests arrive to help out, his star is certainly rising around the popular music scene, which is dope, but I think it should soar even faster.
I wrote a different ending to this review then switched it up, I originally compared Trombone to another phenom, Robert Randolph. I think both are very similar at they are masters of instruments not always seen in mainstream music (especially these days) but both are ungodly talented doing what they do. Randolph has been around the national scene longer, but they both lack that one break-out hit.
I also used Santana as an example, super guitar player, amazing backing band (The Family Band for Randolph, Orleans Ave for Shorty) but he was just another gifted San Fran player until his cover of the great Tito Puente's "Oye Como Va" hit the ears making his career.
All are such great musicians, but with the younger two aren't great song writers yet, and Santana has never been, his Supernatural album gave him a late career (and financial) boost that made him a household name. Not being great song writers doesn't take away from their music in the slightest, but the energy and passion Shorty and Randolph display makes you want them to be bigger then they actually are.
Sure, it is fun to see them in small venues, but the world should be privy to these virtuoso's not just fans in the know. Anyway, that critical third album is next for Troy, lets hope he explodes to bigger and better heights. Until then, enjoy the music, it is virtually impossible not too...
"Do To Me" That solo at 1:55 (and stays until the end) is Jeff Beck, even though he ain't in the vid...
"The Craziest Things" Live on Jools Holland
"Dumaine St." "Lagniappe" and "Do To Me" live at NPR Tiny Desk Concert
Just a quick heads up, The Dead Weather will be playing Brooklyn in a week, at the tiny Music Hall of Williamsburg, so you know this will sell out instantly. From the Band:
November show in Brooklyn announced!
11.09.2009
The Dead Weather have just announced that they will be playing a show at the Music Hall of Williamsburg in Brooklyn, NY on November 17th. Tickets will be available for subscribers to The Vault, Third Man Records' online subscription service, for three days starting on Tuesday, November 10th at 12 pm EST, and available to the general public starting Friday, November 13th at 12 pm EST.
During this trip to NY the band will also be performing at the mtvU Woodie Awards so be sure to vote for them in the Best Video Woodie category HERE Tune in to see that performance on Friday, December 4th at 10 pm EST on mtvU, MTV, MTV2 and Palladia.
Townes Van Zandt is an undisputed songwriting legend, however his studio recordings are a bit of a mess. Producers, record companies, and maybe the artist himself, didn't know what they wanted out the records, adding odd styles/instrumentation and going for a "hit". The truth is Van Zandt is at his best with his voice, humor and an acoustic guitar in a small bar, see Live At The Old Quarter House for RtBE's choice as the definitive Van Zandt release.
Sky Blue is a capturing of just his voice and acoustic guitar. The story goes (from NPR):
In early '73..Van Zandt paid a visit to his friend Bill Hedgepeth in Atlanta, Georgia. Hedgepeth was a journalist with whom Van Zandt felt a strong connection. As the itinerant musician would do many times in the years to come, he availed himself of Hedgepeth's surprisingly high-tech home studio (the writer was a musician, too) to lay down rough recordings of whatever songs were bouncing around his brainpan at the time. During this particular visit, those songs included a couple of brand-new tunes he would never release, a few covers that would likewise never see daylight, demos of songs he'd record that year and a couple of songs from his previous album. Recorded in the simplest of circumstances with only Van Zandt's plaintive croon and acoustic guitar.
These demo quality tracks are an excellent capturing of the moment, but are elevated even higher because of the intimacy and the strong playing from the mercurial artist. Van Zandt is the rare talent who can make deep classic murder ballads, on this release "The Hills of Roane County" sound just as affecting as tossed off light love covers, here it is "Forever, For Always, For Certain" originally written by Richard Dobson.
The two new/unearthed originals from Van Zandt are the opening "All I Need" and the title track, both showcase Townes range. "All I Need" is deeply searching/wandering as the restless soul strums and plucks with forward/retreating pace, spinning his wheels while stunning with different lyrical twists. "Sky Blue" is just picture pretty, straight ahead folk floating along.
Classic "Pancho and Lefty" is excellently presented with a calm demeanor and perfect sound while the chilling "Snake Song" and "Silver Ships of Andilar" are distant with echoes which only enhance their hypnotic, eerie effect. The minimalist recording style and unprofessional production do not diminish things much at all if you understand the story and situation going in. Old favorite "Rex Blues" has a pleasant run through and the album closer is a easy flowing rendition of Tom Paxton's "Last Thing on My Mind" with what sounds like some banjo accompaniment from perhaps Mr. Hedgepeth himself.
The beauty of a record like Sky Blue is that it is a great place for new fans to start and it is a must for any long time fan of Townes to own. For a true American troubadour the more releases the better and the intimacy of the singing and the songs trumps any minor quibbles with the recording quality.
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Support the artist, buy the record, peep some video below:
We search the murky back waters of youtube to find full concerts and post them to the site weekly, come back every seven days to help us celebrate Full Show Friday's. These shows are of varying quality and may not be here for long so enjoy them while you can...As always, please support the artist every which way, but especially by seeing them live (if they are still playing)...This week...
Kamasi Washington!
It's Jazzy January again here at RtBE, so get ready to kick off 2018 with some different styled shows every Friday. For this series we skew into new (or more recent) jazz lands. Keeping it current proves there is amazing live jazz still being performed no matter what Ken Burns says.
This week we are going with one of the men who brought jazz back into the cool zone as Kamasi Washington performs The Epic live in downtown LA in 2015. While there is no doubt Kamasi has brought the spotlight back around for "in the know" music fans back towards Jazz, RtBE's personal taste leans more towards his contemporary who we showcased last week. Washington is damn good though and for fans of adventurous music who are hesitant to jump into jazz this is great place to try it out.
This is Jazz Night in America on NPR so you get an introduction and some amazing background. Needless to say, Pro Shot, Pro Sound, with setlist and players below. Enjoy:
Jazz Night In America features Kamasi Washington and the music of The Epic at its release party, and in its full glory. From the Regent Theater in Downtown L.A., Washington presents his new album with his working band, a choir, a string section and plenty of special guests.
SETLIST 5:45 - "Askim" 27:25 - "Change of the Guard" 47:00 - "Leroy and Lanisha" 1:02:01 - "Henrietta Our Hero" 1:15:10 - "Re Run" 1:44:00 - "The Message"
MUSICIANS Kamasi Washington, Tony Austin, Ronald Bruner, Stephen Bruner, Brandon Coleman, Cameron Graves, Miles Mosley, Ryan Porter, Patrice Quinn, Battlecat, Munyungo Jackson, The Gaslamp Killer, Terrace Martin, Leon Mobley, Ras G, Dwight Trible, Rickey Washington, Dontae Winslow, Miguel Atwood:Ferguson, Paul Cartwright, Yvette Devereauz, Atryom Manukyan, Ginger Murphy, Tylana Renga, Molly Rogers, Jim Simone, Andrea Witt, Nia Andrews, Trenyce Cobbins, Thalma de Freitas, Taylor Graves, Charles Jones, Dawn Norsleet, Steven Wayne, Mashica Winslow
The world lost an amazing songwriter today as it was confirmed that Allen Toussaint passed away while on tour in Madrid, he was 77 years old.
We love New Orleans and he was a titanic voice for that town, writing so many classic songs and working with everyone under the sun. Nola.com The Times and other sites have reflections on the legend and NPR is sharing a full concert you can check out from him back in '09 at The Village Vanguard.
Here at RtBE, Toussaint will always have a special place in our heart. I distinctly remember one of the major tipping points, a quick yet powerful moment that really solidified our love for The Crescent City. It wasn't one of Toussaints sets or one of his numerous sit in's we caught with great musicians. It was simply getting down to NOLA early one Wednesday in 2010 to kick off our Jazzfest experience. Dropping off my bags, getting so pumped, I headed directly to the Louisiana Music Factory for live tunes and records.
In a state of unadulterated joy I stepped off a curb a bit too quick, and looked up to see a Rolls-Royce cruising slowly through the intersection of Decatur and Conti. Never in danger, but a bit in awe, I looked in to see Mr. Toussaint himself give a warm smile and politely waving me along, guiding me up the block to see Kermit Ruffins play.
Shaking my head I realized this was the beginning of an amazing trip, in a magical city and really put things over the top before anything even happened. New Orleans is alive, and Toussaint will always live on there as a massive legend and really anywhere you get to hear his fantastic songs, sang/played by him or anyone else as he has crossed generations/races/genres. Below are just a few.
"Riverboat" Live in NYC
Lee Dorsey and Toussaint "Working In A Coal Mine"
Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue with Toussaint "On Your Way Down"
Bonnie Raitt and Toussaint "What is Success?" Live
