Not knowing at all Allen Toussaint is by reading the reviews I decided to buy the CD. After listening several times this record, I do not understand the almost unanimous enthusiasm on this record. The idea of putting on the same disc both pieces typical of New Orleans (Oliver compositions, Morton, Bechet ...) with other more contemporary (Ellington and Monk) is not bad (but not original). The result is a very well done by excellent musicians really drive but lacks a soul. Admittedly, most of the themes are blues, the disc was recorded after the disaster that hit Louisiana, but it lacks a certain pleasure, a joy to magnify all standard. The disc is not bad but it's far from being a masterpiece. An anecdote: the picture on Amazon is that the cardboard sleeve that surrounds the CD. This is a very picture of William Claxton. The album cover is a photo of Allen Toussaint a banality!