Allen Toussaint: The Lost Interview

Did you lose sentimental items?
Oh, yes, definitely — and about many, many other things. We all have those sentimental things — some things we have for 10 years and suddenly. Fine Steinway — but there are other Steinways and I’m looking forward to new things and exciting times, purchasing new things and seeing things that I didn’t have.

I left the city yesterday. I finally was able to get a chartered bus from New Orleans to Baton Rouge, and from Baton Rouge, 6:50 this morning, I was able to get a flight to Houston, Texas, and immediate connection onto Joshua, New York. [I’ll] be finding momentary residence for a brief spell. I’m looking forward to being here because I love New York.

Tell me about the Steinway you mentioned you lost.
Owned that Steinway since the Seventies — it’s been a dear friend and confidante, you might say.

How were people dealing with each other during the crisis?
I guess everyone saw a lot of looting on TV and things of that nature, people really yelling at each other and stealing various things. There was some of that. But there was more — beautiful things happened, with people interacting with each other, really communicating in ways that they didn’t know that they could. People could do many things with others — a guy looked like he was maybe someone to be afraid of, maybe helping [an] old lady get some water. That was just delightful — I saw lots of things like that going on.

Where exactly did you live?
I lived near Bayou St. John, lived near the Fairgrounds where the Jazz Festival takes place. From my bedroom balcony over my background, I could hear everyone tuning up during Jazz Fest. When I left my house, it all hadn’t started; [it] started to rain a little. Soon thereafter, it was right underwater in the area. House had four to seven feet of water. I saw aerial views of the area. Sometimes you could see rooftops and two to three feet.

Did you live alone or with other people?
Alone. Oh, definitely — my daughter Alison and her family went to Houston at the first sign. My son Reggie, who’s the engineer and the percussionist, and his family, went to Texas as well. They’re not as diehard as I am. But then they have more people to move about.

I heard your daughter tried to get you to leave much sooner than you did — accurate?
Accurate. Every time! She always tries to get me out early, but it won’t happen. It was a New Orleans event and I was there and I’m glad to say I was there to see it, whether good or bad. Again, I say the human drama was overwhelming.