Toussaint the Liberator is an experienced vocalist/songwriter that has seen his fair share of big stages and hole in the wall clubs and yet still is capable of creating an intimate space with his music.
After several years touring first regionally with Toussaint and the China Band and later internationally with Soulive (to name but a few of the many groups he's fronted), Toussaint is now teamed up with the dub and funk group Buru Style.
Toussaint and Buru Style perform a mash-up of all-original roots and lover's reggae, funk, and soul that has been absolutely devastating audiences in the Northeast recently.
Anyone who has seen Toussaint at various stages in his career will notice that during the two years he wrote and toured with Soulive his voice and songwriting ability matured. Toussaint is now cool, calm, and collected, breathing deep and singing some of sweetest melodies to grace the air in years.
Buru Style, which was founded in '06 by China Band drummer Bill Carbone, brings a deep grounding in roots music from Nyabingi to funk, a serious horn section, and a boatload of gritty original riddims marked by thumping grooves and memorable melodies.
Toussaint and Buru Style's live show is a must see. Modeled after the great soul reviews of the past (think James Brown or the Stax Review) the band kicks off the night, brings up Toussaint, and then the music doesn't stop again until the show is over. The tunes move so quickly the crowd doesn't even have time to think about getting bored! In the studio, Toussaint and Buru are a success as well, and their first full-length recording is due in summer '09.
