Lauper's true colour shines through

So Oscar Peterson is playing piano, telling Cyndi Lauper he liked her version of What's Going On. Instead of dueting with Peterson, Lauper complains that the song didn't get as high on the charts as she had hoped.

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• Words & Music

Big bands polish their horns for battle

There was a time when North Americans thronged to dance halls to swing to the sounds of big-band music, also called jazz.

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Allen Toussaint: hands that rock the cradle of jazz

The Bright Mississippi, one of the most singular jazz albums of recent years - breathtakingly beautiful, a classic from the first listen -is the creation of a man mostly associated with New Orleans rhythm-and-blues and funk rath er than jazz: Allen Toussaint. The 72-year-old composer, pian ist and producer has long been considered a treasure by those in the know who cherish American roots music.

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