New Orleans pianist Allen Toussaint's final album,
American Tunes, will be released posthumously by Nonesuch Records on June 10.
The album is a collection of tunes recorded during his final studio sessions, finished in October 2015, shortly before he died of a heart attack while on tour last November at the age of 77. Its track list comprises a collection of classic American compositions, including some of his own, alongside ones by such artists as Fats Waller, Bill Evans and Duke Ellington. The album’s title is drawn from a Paul Simon song by the same name.
Some tracks on
American Tunes are solo pieces, which he recorded at his home, while others feature a full band, including guest performances by guitarist Bill Frisell, drummer Jay Bellerose and saxophonist Charles Lloyd.
American Tunes will also be released as a limited-edition double-vinyl LP.
