Allen Toussaint: Southern Nights (Warner Bros. K 54021)***
Tony Cummings, Black Music, August 1975
THE FRUSTRATION of unfulfilled potential is never more strongly felt than when listening to the recordings of Allen Toussaint. As a producer for others he is incomparable: the creator of fiery New Orleans B&B in which he brings out warmth and rhythm in a heady brew of originality. But when Toussaint takes up the role of artist, his music loses its direction and dynamics and often becomes too reliant on engaging mellowness and lazy gentleness.
Total word count of piece: 216
