Some Celtic and Scandinavian-like sounds for today’s mix. You’ll hear Norway’s Kings of Convenience getting very “Simon & Garfunkel: on us; Lyle Mays’ journey into the highlands, Nickel Creek going Celtic, more great piano from Norway’s Tord Gustavsen, and a very Bjork-like plea from fellow Icelander Emiliana Torrini.

Playlist/Sources:

Kings Of Convenience / Homesick / Riot On An Empty Street

Lyle Mays / Highland Aire / Lyle Mays

Nickel Creek / Robin & Marian/ Nickel Creek

Tord Gustavsen / The Ground / The Ground

Emiliana Torrini / Sunny Road / Fisherman’s Woman

Selections From Allen Toussaint’s new recording, The Bright Mississippi.

Here’s a record that celebrates the roots of American popular music, going back to nearly a century, in the place where it all started, the blessed city of New Orleans, LA.

Allen Toussaint is known for his classic r&b songwriting, his record producing work with a host of pop legends, his deft piano skills on the bandstand, and his work as the lead songwriter and producer of The Meters.

This disc however goes further back in time with selections from the catalog of jelly Roll Morton, Sidney Bechet, Louis Armstrong, King Oliver, Django Reinhardt, Thelonious Monk, Duke Ellington, and others. He’s got an awesome band with him too, with special appearances from Brad Mehldau, Joshua Redman, Don Byron, Nichaols Payton, and Marc Ribot.

The New Orleans jazz and Heritage festival is going on right now and in my book, there’s no better way to celebrate it than to play some of this great old music.
.

Set List:
Singin’ The Blues (w/ Nicholas Payton)
Bright Mississippi
Just A Closer Walk With Thee (w/ Don Byron)
Blue Drag (w/ Marc Ribot)
Whinin’ Boy Blues (w/ Brad Mehldau)

And here’s Allen doing his old hit record, Workin In The Coal Mine:

Enjoy!

Good new stuff. And a great 1962 gem from Ike Quebec too. Enjoy.
.

.
Playlist/Sources:

Brian Blade / After The Revival / Mama Rosa

Julian Lage / Lil’ Darlin / Sounding Point

Tingstad & Rumbel / Chinese Lullaby/ Leap of Faith

Melody Gardot / Who Will Comfort Me / My One And Only Thrill

Ike Quebec / Favela / Bossa Nova Soul Samba

Abdullah Ibrahim / Oceans & The River / Senzo

Stan Getz & Charlie Byrd / Bahia / Jazz Samba

Cassandra Wilson / Harvest Moon / New Moon Daughter

Tony Campise / A Flower Is A Lovesome Thing/ Once In A Blue Moon

Melody Gardot / Worrisome Heart / Worrisome Heart

Tom Scott / Stars Fell From Alabama / Cannon Reloaded: An All-Star Celebration of Cannonball Adderley

Rachel Z (The Dept. Of Good & Evil) / Maps / Dept. of Good & Evil

Nat King Cole is one of my musical heroes. His piano playing (and Oscar Moore’s incredible guitar work) in the King Cole Trio is brilliant (Check out the jam on “Sweet Georgia Brown” on this podcast). He was a reluctant vocalist who stumbled into being one of the biggest pop stars of his generation, and the first African-American to host his own TV show and have a worldwide audience. A very gracious man as well. Whenever I need a lift in life, putting on a King Cole Trio record nearly always does the trick. Check out the tunes on the audio file below. Had he lived, he would’ve turned 90 years old on March 17.
.

.
Set List:
Jumpin At Capitol
Straighten Up & Fly Right
Gee Baby Aint I Good To You
Body and Soul
Sweet Lorraine
When I Take My Sugar To Tea
Sweet Georgia Brown
The Frim Fram Sauce
Route 66

Want to watch a couple of classic videos? Here’s one from 1949 with the Trio:

And how bout Nat singing with Oscar Peterson, Ray Brown, Herb Ellis, and Coleman Hawkins. Awesome!