Extra, April 22nd: Gotta Broken Heart Again

Two live recordings of songs about freedom and harmony that popped up together on a random playlist yesterday. Toussaint’s reading of the exquisite “Freedom for the Stallion” has his superlative piano playing – part gospel, part New Orleans, mixed up with that ethereal Southern Nights ambience, where beautifully stretched melodies play out…

That’s followed by Brittany Howard playing the extraordinary “13th Century Metal” live at KCRW in L.A. last month. There’s a singularity to Howard – her take on life is so artful and strong. “We are all brothers and sisters, I learned that as a child, it’s a simple concept to grasp…” she intones over a smorgasbord of funk laid down by her crackshot band.