Allen Toussaint

The final album by the late, great Allen Toussaint, American Tunes was recorded at two sets of sessions with producer Joe Henry: solo piano at Toussaint's New Orleans home studio in 2013, and with a rhythm section and guest artists in Los Angeles in 2015.  On his solo performances including "Mardi Gras in New Orleans," "Hey Little Girl" and "Big Chief," Toussaint pays tribute to his hero at the keys, New Orleans' Professor Longhair.  The album also features band arrangements of songs written and/or popularized by Toussaint ("Delores' Boyfriend," "Southern Nights"), Duke Ellington ("Come Sunday," "Rocks in My Bed," "Lotus Blossom"), Bill Evans ("Waltz for Debby"), Fats Waller ("(I'm) Confessin' (That I Love You)," "Viper's Drag"), Paul Simon (title track "American Tune"), and others.  The double-vinyl LP release adds three bonus tracks: renditions of Henry Mancini and Johnny Mercer's "Moon River" and the Professor Longhair pair "Her Mind is Gone" and "Bald Head."