Irma Thomas, Dr. John and Arrangements by Allen Toussaint Featured on Forthcoming Album by Hugh Laurie (Star of FOX TV's House)

Irma Thomas, Dr. John and horn arrangements by Allen Toussaint are all featured on a forthcoming album by Hugh Laurie (likely known to Americans primarily for his starring role in FOX TV's House series. He's also been a successful comedic actor in his native UK since the late 1980's). The album, Let Them Talk, will be released in the UK May 9, 2011 with a US release to follow in the Fall. Recorded in Los Angeles and New Orleans, the album is a celebration of New Orleans music.

The legendary Allen Toussaint contributes horn arrangements throughout the album. The project was produced by Joe Henry (Solomon Burke, Elvis Costello, Bettye LaVette, Allen Toussaint,Loudon Wainwright III, among others).

Hugh offers an amusingly humble explanation of the record: "I was not born in Alabama in the 1890s. You may as well know this now. I've never eaten grits, cropped a share, or ridden a boxcar. No gypsy woman said anything to my mother when I was born and there's no hellhound on my trail, as far as I can judge. Let this record show that I am a white, middle-class Englishman, openly trespassing on the music and myth of the American south.

If that weren't bad enough, I'm also an actor... Worst of all, I've broken a cardinal rule of art, music, and career paths: actors are supposed to act, and musicians are supposed to music. That's how it works. You don't buy fish from a dentist, or ask a plumber for financial advice, so why listen to an actor's music? The answer is - there is no answer. If you care about provenance and genealogy, then you should try elsewhere, because I have nothing in your size."