On the concert ticket stub, it read “Legends of New Orleans,” but If anyone on either side of the Mississippi hasn’t heard the sounds or songs by the venerable PHJB and songwriter/pianist Allen Toussaint, this 2 hour concert did a service in refreshing anyone’s mind and memory as to why they liked jazz in the first place, and why the Crescent City claims to be birthplace of America’s classical music.
Serving up the freshest two step swing since 1961, the current rhythm team of Ben Jaffe/b, Ronell Johnson/tuba, Rickie Monie/p and Joe Lastie Jr/dr set up an infectious groove while the front line of Clint Maedgen/ts, Freddie L onzo/tb, Mark Braud/tp and Charlie Gabriel/ts-cl wailed on a rollicking “Dippermouth Blues” while Gabriel joyfully crooned on a cozy “I Think I Love You.” While the heart of the sounds of Lonzo’s growling trombone or Maedgen’s smoky tenor may be in “traditional” jazz, the jib, feel and hard hitting essence transcended genres and felt more modern than anything being put out by the Downbeat Poll Winners.
After a handful of tunes by the PHJB, Monie steps away from the piano over to the Hammond B3, and up strolls legendary Allen Toussaint, dressed up in a baby blue shimmering suit, sitting down and mixing the essence of the New Orleans rhythm and beat with his patented pop hits of half a century ago like “ A Certain Girl” and “Working In A Coal Mine” that sound as sweet as a mint julep with the same bite. Adding to the festive spirit, Toussaint brought a bit of Mardi Gras celebration to the theatre by bringing out a bag of trinkets which he threw out to the charmed audience who joined in the spirit of the evening. His irresistible piano musings on “Get Out Of My Life, Woman” was as rollicking and rich as a café a lait at the Café Du Monde, while his clever articulations and voice on the incessant “Yes We Can” was as rich delectable as a beignet.
His humorous material such as “Sneaking Sally Through The Alley,” hits during the 50s and 80s, and “Fortune Teller” which has been covered by everyone from the Who to The Rolling Stones was served up in authentic gumbo style by the composer, with infectious riffs, spicy accents and an authority of delivery that can only be accomplished by one who’s lived the life. He teamed up and sang with Johnson providing obbligatos on trombone for a “Long Journey Blues’ that captured the essential taproot of where American music came from.
With the band hitting the tambourines like a revival meeting , Braud pepped up the mood with a rolling “ I’m Walking” while closing out the set with as agonizing a take of “St. James Infirmary” as can be imagined. Monie’s gloriously ominous B3 smoked away while Braud rang h is horn out to dry in the first half, while Gabriel had his clarinet slither on the more uptempo second part as Maedgen sang his tale of woe.
Toussaint came back for the closing encore, capsulating the evening with the bon mot of “Southern Nights” once again reflecting the melding of insouciance and passion that came from the Delta and has been passed on to the rest of the world, from which may we never recover.
Upcoming shows at The Broad Stage include Lunasa (Dec 20), Taj Mahal (Feb 20) and Zap Mama (Feb 21).