Bright Mississippi, The

ALLEN TOUSSAINT: The Bright Mississippi
Nonesuch, 2009

NEW ORLEANS – Okay, this is killer. An iconic R&B songwriter/ pianist shows what he can do with straight jazz, tackling tunes from Jelly Roll Morton to Thelonious Monk with an “A-List” band. The disc has more soul than the typical New Orleans trad-jazz session, but it’s authentic, deep and full of love. Simply outstanding, start to finish.

Allen Toussaint - piano
Don Byron - clarinet
Nicholas Payton - trumpet
Marc Ribot - guitar
David Piltch - bass
Jay Bellerose - drums/percussion

special guests: Brad Mehldau (5), Joshua Redman (10)

* * * * * | Fo’s Picks: ALL!

1. 4:41 – slow shuffling march: filigreed clarinet, ballsy trumpet, soulful piano
2. 6:19 – oh, man… bluesy piano/trumpet duet, just dripping with atmosphere
3. 3:52 – back-porch vibe: sweet piano & acoustic guitar, quiet handclap beat
4. 5:40 – lazy & lyrical, trumpet just sings, then piano lays it down solid
5. 6:42 – great 2-piano duet with Brad Mehldau(!), bluesy but romantic too
6. 3:52 – slow drag, just perfect… piano is all over it, nice down-home guitar
7. 4:22 – slinky nighttime sneak, great sound… more great piano/guitar play
8. 5:11 – clarinet/piano duet: gorgeous gospel with a shot of N’awlins soul
9. 5:08 – you’ve never heard a Monk tune like this: shuffle, then a goofy jam
10. 5:27 – piano/sax duet with Joshua Redman… elegant & heartfelt
11. 4:51 – Allen sings the blues, while the band gets lowdown
12. 5:31 – piano/guitar duet: gentle, wistful

[ Fo ] 05/16/09