Musicians Clarence Reginald Toussaint, Roland Guerin, Herman LeBeaux, Renard Poche in the late Allen Toussaint's studio in New Orleans on Friday, March 18, 2016. (Photo by Brett Duke, Nola.com | The Times-Picayune)
By John Wirt (Follow on Twitter)
on April 04, 2016 at 7:00 AM, updated April 04, 2016 at 10:33 AM
The core members of Allen Toussaint's band felt like they were part of his family. Two musicians in the late songwriter, pianist and producer's band really are family members -- his son, percussionist Clarence "Reginald" Toussaint, and son-in-law, drummer Herman LeBeaux Jr.
Clarence Toussaint, LeBeaux, guitarist Renard Poché and bassist Roland Guerin performed with Toussaint from 2008 until a heart attack felled him Nov. 10 after a concert in Spain.
The surviving musicians recently gathered at the beloved New Orleans music master's recording studio – still decorated with his art and music memorabilia -- to reminisce. The warmth and professional fulfillment they experienced with Toussaint, onstage and off, dominated the conversation.
Toussaint, Poché said, as he sat beside his band mates, had a vision for everything he did.
"Very particular about the music," the guitarist emphasized. "He also had amazing focus. So much so that he'd write music charts in the studio while the band rehearsed. I don't know how he could focus enough to write while other music was going on! And then he could comment on the conversation we had while he was writing! Man, he had some kind of brain."
And despite decades of success and acclaim, Toussaint stayed driven and enthusiastic.
"If you didn't know better, you would think he was a person still trying to make it," Poché said.
For Guerin, touring with Toussaint was like bringing home friends and a wonderful mentor along for the ride.
"It was home on the road," the bassist said. "In terms of Mr. Toussaint specifically, I learned stuff like I was learning from my dad. He had that kind of care. It was that kind of family, but a band as well."
Lessons learned from the maestro included the "details in everything," the bassist said. "Songs and life. He showed me, in a lot of ways, another world."
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