Trudi and Jackson is a whimsical country-rock tune with Honky-Tonk flair and a splash of New Orleans R&B, from Chris Missen’s 2025 album Saudade Stories. The instrumentation is classic country-rock—piano, bass, drums, acoustic guitar, and electric guitar—providing the perfect backdrop for Chris’s storytelling flair, one of his strongest attributes as a songwriter.

The lyrics immediately brought to mind a screwball buddy road movie—something in the spirit of Peter Bogdanovich’s Paper Moon—so I wanted my piano part to capture that playful, lighthearted energy. I recorded two separate piano tracks: the first plays melodic fills, and the second joins later to lay down a rhythmic foundation. That rhythm track leans into a New Orleans groove, nodding to Allen Toussaint’s laid-back, feel-good style.

With its blend of country charm, barroom fun, and a touch of Southern mischief, this track is one of the most cinematic on the album—you can almost see the story unfolding as you listen.

Want to hear how the piano part came together? Check out the isolated piano version here.

Music & lyrics by Chris Missen

Musicians:

Chris Missen - Vocals, acoustic and electric guitars, bass, drum programming

Lisha Kayrooz - Piano