Allen Toussaint Quintet plus Hillary Smith & Hip Pocket; Paul Rivers Bailey & Human Family; Laryea Addy; Rodney Bowe & more

Allen Toussaint is truly one of America’s musical treasures. Singer, pianist, songwriter, arranger and producer, the New Orleans native has been making hit records for over forty years. His massive influence on American music reaches deep into the idioms of rhythm and blues, pop, country, musical theater, blues and jazz. He played an essential role in developing the sound of New Orleans— a sound that through artists like Dr. John, The Band, and the Rolling Stones reached a world-wide audience. Inducted into the 1998 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, some of Toussaint’s best known hits include Ernie K-Doe’s “Mother-in-Law;” “Fortune Teller,” recorded by The Rolling Stones; the Lee Dorsey hit “Working in the Coal Mine”, also recorded by Devo and The Judds; and the Grammy-nominated “Southern Nights,” recorded by Glen Campbell, which received BMI’s “Most Performed Song of the Year” in 1977. More recently, in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Toussaint collaborated with Elvis Costello on the recording, The River in Reverse. In dedication to the rebuilding of New Orleans, Toussaint and Costello did a nationwide tour in support of the CD. Allen Toussaint will be performing tonight with his quintet which features Brian “Breeze” Cayolle, saxophone; Anthony Brown, guitar; Chris Severin, bass; and Herman LeBeaux, drums.

Hip Pocket is a funk and blues ensemble fronted by vocalist Hillary Smith. One of New Mexico’s finest soul divas, she was recently named “Best of the City” by Albuquerque The Magazine. She first made her mark on the Albuqerque scene with her 1980s band Strictly Taboo and since then she has performed and recorded with Kevin Hays, Clyde Stubblefield and Bobby Shew (both featured on her most recent CD). Tonight she is joined by Hip Pocket founding member, Dimi DiSanti on guitar; plus Rob “Milo” Jaramillo, bass; Steve Figueroa, keyboards; Glenn Kostur, saxophone and Mark Clark, drums. They delve into the territory explored by Etta James, Chaka Kahn, Aretha Franklin and Janis Joplin and include sassy, heartfelt blues and neo-soul, gospel-tinged originals which are featured on Hill’s latest recently released CD, No Easy Way.

Paul Rivers Bailey is a young soul, R&B, and hip-hop artist From Santa Fe by way of Queens, NY. His recent release Inner Child, has received widespread critical acclaim. He describes it as “a work of love offered in the hope of spreading healing through a message of peace and love in music.” Human Family has performed at South by Southwest, Santa Fe Muzikfest and other venues from Brooklyn NY to Dallas Texas and features Paul Rivers Bailey, vocals; Tito Rios, guitar; James Maldonado, bass; Gary Lombardo, percussion; and Lindsey Haughton, drums.

Also appearing: Laryea Addy & Ni Lee Gbe African Drum & Dance Ensemble; and Rodney Bowe & Sweetlife with Sina Soul

FREE!