Gordon Lightfoot Book, Music and More!

Elvis Costello is rock’s renaissance man. Along with writing and recording his own songs — some of the wittiest and most acerbic in the pop catalogue, Costello has produced a number of Britain’s best bands, including the Pogues, the Specials and Squeeze. The husband of Diana Krall has also become something of a pop commentator, penning liner notes for CD reissues and acting as a contributor to Vanity Fair. A future Rock and Roll Hall of Famer himself, Costello has collaborated with some of pop’s biggest heavyweights, including Paul McCartney and Burt Bacharach. His latest partner is Allen Toussaint, the legendary New Orleans artist, best known for writing numerous R&B hits and produ...

Allen Toussaint (January 14, 1938 – November 10, 2015) touched so much of my favorite music. He wrote Aaron Neville’s “Tell It Like It Is,” Ernie K-Doe's “Mother-in-Law,” Irma Thomas” “Ruler of My Heart,” Chris Kenner’s “I Like It Like That,” Lee Dorsey’s “Holy Cow” and Solomon Burke’s “Get Out of My Life Woman.” He also penned two famous instrumentals: Al Hirt’s “Java” and Herb Alpert’s “Whipped Cream.” Beyond songwriting, Toussaint groomed one of the best bands of all time, the Meters, and produced artists like the Neville Brothers, Paul McCartney, Dr. John, Paul Simon, Joe Cocker, Glen Campbell, Labelle and Robert Palmer. Everything he DID was funky. To hear the late great pianist capture...

When it comes to top pianists, Diana Krall points to Oscar Peterson while her hubby, Elvis Costello, favors Allen Toussaint. Elvis collaborated with the New Orleans legend on their fine album The River in Reverse. Here Allen, who helped to shape the sound of r&b, soul and funk as a songwriter, producer and pianist, offers his classy instrumental versions of old standards like “St. James Infirmary” and “Just a Closer Walk with Thee.” And his rhythmic cover of the Thelonious Monk-penned title track is pure heaven. April 2009