Allen Toussaint's rare amalgam of prodigious piano playing, deft songwriting, arranging and production acumen has kept him at the forefront of modern music for nearly half a century. On "The Bright Mississippi," the Crescent City's crown prince of piano takes a rare look back at the venerable New Orleans songbook, reinventing age-old standards one rollicking riff at a time. Producer Joe Henry pairs Toussaint with the roots-ified rhythm section of David Piltch and Jay Bellerose (Henry's own bandmates, incidentally). The inspiring combination lifts the album far beyond tribute material into sonic territory all its own. Toussaint tackles the classic "St. James Infirmary" with a hymn-like reverence, his rolling piano parts prodding Marc Ribot's nimble guitar. Saxophonist Joshua Redman guests on the Duke Ellington/Billy Strayhorn classic "Day Dream" for a blues-drenched duet that simmers from the very first downbeat. And on "A Dear Old Southland," Toussaint's playful piano work struts, shimmers and shouts alongside the masterful trumpet lines of Nicholas Payton.—Jon Regen