Cyril Neville

For the few who do not know Cyril Neville’s music he brings the distilled essence of New Orleans to any table he graces.
He was a member of the Meters and has played with The Neville Brothers for years while his guest collaborators on this album – Dr John, Allen Toussaint, Mike Zito, Walter Trout – are all stars in their own right and bring their talents to a man who has played with them all for years. He is also part of the Royal Southern Brotherhood, the latest supergroup and one of the few worthy of the name.

Ok, that covers his chops, what about the album? In short, 5 stars is selling it short. Right from the off this is a superb slab of funk and N’Awlins Blues and as the album progresses it gets better and sharper – exceptional stuff.
His voice is high and emotive with a slight quaver on the big notes that carries the emotion and his guitar playing is hard-edged and sharp but the sense of funk and rhythm – shades of The Meters – is so strong you cannot but get up and shake some booty.

Take ‘Swamp Funk’ – the rhythm section are going apeshit with Carl Dufrane’s bass doing a melody thing while Allen Toussaint is on piano and Dr John chips in with sublime organ – complete as a mess of gumbo and you just catch yourself doing a chicken peck to the spaces between. Like all the best New Orleans numbers it just carries you alo ng and then just peters out but in your mind they are still playing, still jamming until the grinding guitar of ’Something’s Got A Hold Of Me’ takes you in a BLuesy and soulful direction with a sublime solo from David Z.
The Blues continues with numbers like ‘Still Going Down Today’ – that voice cutting to the depths of your soul – and the rocky ‘Invisible’ and screaming axe on ‘Blues IS the Truth’ with Cyril testifying with all his heart.
Walter Trout adds his guitar to ‘Running Water’ and shows he can do funk as well as the blue collar stuff he is known for and Mike Zito features on a wicked version of Mike Bloomield & Nick Gravenite’s ‘Working Man’ and ‘Money And Oil’ but for all the superstar artists this is Cyril Neville’s album and worthy of a man with his experience and sheer bloody talent.

Just for a change I have an album in front of me that is ALL the sum of its parts – none of this 110% bullshit, this is 100% pure gold.