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Elvis Costello extends trek with Allen Toussaint
Elvis Costello has added new dates to his upcoming tour in support of "The River in Reverse," a collaboration with New Orleans musician Allen Toussaint that is due in stores Tuesday (6/6).
Costello--who spent the first half of 2006 touring in front of an orchestra to support his other release from this year, "My Flame Burns Blue"--will bring his regular backing group, The Imposters, on tour with him, along with Toussaint and his New Orleans Horn Section.
The one-month tour kicks off June 10 in Green Bay, WI, and will hit 20 cities along the route, with new additions coming in Milwaukee, Columbus, OH, Montreal and the outing's new closing date, July 12 in Boston.
In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, Costello and Toussaint began the collaboration that resulted in "The River in Reverse." The album includes new and old compositions by Toussaint, several songs co-written by Toussaint and Costello, plus one new Costello original, the title track. Musicians featured on the project include The Imposters, as well as Toussaint's horn section and guitarist. Joe Henry (Aimee Mann, Susan Tedeschi) produced the set
The initial recording sessions for the album took place in Los Angeles in late November, and sessions wrapped up early this year in New Orleans. According to Costello's publicist, the recording of the album marked the first major sessions to take place in New Orleans since Hurricane Katrina.
Included in initial pressings of the album will be a bonus short film, "Putting the River in Reverse," shot and directed by Matthew Buzzell, which documents the making of the album and follows Costello and Toussaint as they travel from Hollywood to New Orleans in the aftermath of Katrina.
Costello's other 2006 effort, "My Flame Burns Blue," is a concert album recorded at The Hague in the Netherlands with the Metropole Orchestra that features orchestral performances of Costello staples like "Almost Blue," "Clubland" and "Watching the Detectives," along with a Charles Mingus composition and a Billy Strayhorn song with Costello's lyrics.
