A BP Music Review

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Allen Toussaint and his Bright Mississippi Band, featuring Don Byron on saxophone and clarinet, Christian Scott on trumpet, Marc Ribot on guitar, David Pilch – bass, and Jay Bellerose on drums, set the Village Vanguard ablaze the night of May 22. Mr. Toussaint, a member of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is a living legend in the Mississippi Delta region, as he is for most musicians and lovers of good music worldwide. In all professions accolades coming from your peers amounts to the highest praise one can achieve. Toussaint, a master composer and pianist, is best known for writing works that others grow large off of.  Niel Young, and others have reaped huge benefits from “Southern Nights,” while “Lady Marmalade” was a hit for Labelle and disco music, both are Toussaint’s works. He has also worked with Dr. John and the Neville Brothers, to name two from the New Orleans area. Toussaint, a native of New Orleans, is considered an icon, high priest and much respected deity, he is the master of Creole, Mardi-gras, gris-gris, zydeco, R&B, and jazz music.

The Bright Mississippi Band performed for close to two hours at the Vanguard covering a wide range of music, from “Singin’ the Blues and “St. James Infirmary”(the tune Cab Calloway put his stamp on along with “Minnie the Moocher”). These tunes featured Joe Henry on vocals. The set continued with a soulful gospels renditions of “Ole Rugged Cross” and “Deep River,” then on to Ellington’s “Solitude,” Armstrong’s “West End Blues,” on to “Stormy Weather,” and including a lesson on the history of New Orleans music. This focused on Toussaint’s idol and mentor Professor Longhair, the heir apparent and Godfather of New Orleans music. Allen did a special dedication of “Fess’” tune “Baldhead” and then quite appropriately wound the show down with the Thelonious Monk composition from which his band secured their name “Bright Mississippi.”

This is an exceptionally tight-knit band, beginning with the rhythm section to the horns. I was most impressed with the phrasings of the clever young trumpeter Christian Scott, I predict much praise will come his way in the future. Don Byron, on clarinet and saxophone, remains consistently creative and innovative. The overwhelming catalystic force behind this band is of course their leader and pianist, Allen Toussaint. If you are one who appreciates good music and creative intelligent showmanship, you owe yourself a date to check out Allen Toussaint and his Bright Mississippi Band when they are in your area.

I consider this band/show one of the top two I have reviewed in the first half of 2009.

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