Nico Wayne Toussaint - Plays James Cotton (2017)

After a few years break from recording, Nico Wayne Toussaint is making a dazzling comeback with an album entirely dedicated to the repertoire of James Cotton, the legendary harp player and singer who passed away last March and had been long associated with Muddy Waters. Nico met James Cotton in the US in 2003 and ended up on stage with him, sitting on his lap and blowing Cotton’s own harmonica! With this album he pays a vibrant tribute to his mentor, backed up by his usual band supplemented by a brass trio. Strong and moving.

Nico Wayne Toussaint signs his shows with his personnality : charisme and pure energy. His repertoire is mainly originals deep rooted in the 50’s Chicago Blues sound with a touch of more contemporary Blues. A tight teamwork by his group and his own unique voice complete a show of blues “a la” Nico Wayne Toussaint.

His latest project is a 8 piece band with which he pays tribute to his all time mentor and strongest influence : James Cotton.

Professional since 1998, he has recorded 13 albums under his name on Dixiefrog Records. Nico continues to perform and enlist new fans, whether it’s in France, Belgium, Holland, the USA, Canada, Spain, Italy, Germany, or in Macedonia, Ecuador, Nigeria, Syria, Tunisia and Morocco.

From the year 2000 on, he has been bringing in guest artists like Cash McCall, David Maxwell, Monster Mike Welch, Killer Ray Allison, Tonky de la Peña, Amar Sundy, Neal Black, Mr. Boogie Woogie or Michael Dotson.

He has recorded or worked with Rod Piazza, Guy Davis, Albert Castiglia, JP Soars, Kid Bangham, Per Hanson, Mudcat Ward, L.A. Jones and Andrew Strong.

He has played with James Cotton, Billy Branch, Johnny Drummer, RJ Mischo, Luther Allison, Eddie C. Campbell, Vance Kelly, Jimmy Burns, Jimmy Johnson and many other names out of the Chicago scene.

His song “How Long To Heal” has won Best Blues Song at the ISC (International Songwriting Competition) 2012. The jurors were Tom Waits (president), Jeff Beck, John Mayall, Suzanne Vega, James Cotton and Brian Setzer, among others.

In 2014 Nico represented South Florida at the IBC (International Blues Challenge, in Memphis) making it up to the finals in the DUO categoy.

In 2015 he placed 3d in the BAND category representing South California Blues Society at the IBC and won HARP PLAYER OF THE YEAR at the same IBC. Finally,

Nico is one of a select few European artists (and the only French one) whose latest albums appear on the RMR Top 10 (ROOTS MUSIC REPORT), the 100 most-played Blues albums in the world.

TRACKLIST

01. No Cuttin' Lose
02. River's Invitation
03. One More Mile
04. Born In Missouri
05. Rocket 88
06. Hot' N Cold
07. Hard Time Blues
08. Today I Started Loving You Again
09. How Long Can A Fool Go Wrong
10. Cotton Crop Blues
11. Down At Your Buryin'
12. Got To Get You Off My Mind
13. Midnight Creeper



All thanks go to the original releaser