Customer Reviews

New Orleans Piano Professor

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Isidore 'Tuts' Washington was one of the most important pianists to emerge in the New Orleans tradition in the 1930s and 40s. He was extremely sceptical towards recording, and consequently, there aren't many albums under his name. In the early 1980s, he agreed to do this album for Rounder Records, and the result is a glorious piano record. Washington handles jazz, blues and pop tunes with the utmost grace and skill, and he comes across as a musical entertainer of the highest order. Like many of his contemporaries, he knew how to please an audience without making artistic compromises. Washington is great to listen to, and he is a very important musician, because of his influence on later players like Longhair and Booker. If you like this album, you should also try to seek out the very rare "Live At Tipitina" which captures Tuts in his element; in front of an enthusiastic, noisy audience.

Tuts Washington's piano playing was a key link between New Orleans jazz and New Orleans rhythm-&-blues. Tuts was a primary influence on New Orleans-Caribbean-rock-n-blues pioneer Professor Longhair and on subsequent players like James Booker, Allen Toussaint, and Dr. John. He played and played, beautifully, both solo and in groups, until he was 80-something and passed away at a gig at the 1984 New Orleans World's Fair. This early-80's recording of solo piano is an outstanding, classic, and very fitting tribute to Tuts' virtuosity.

Apart from Tuts' historical significance, this is a very enjoyable album to listen to, just a delight. Tuts has a unique style which is very appealing, a light touch which is very soulful without becoming heavy handed. His technique is great but the feeling of the music is what is important. This is a great album and functions great as both pleasant background music and fascinating music to listen hard to--I mean that as a compliment.