Older News (2008)
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October 2008
September 2008
August 2008
July 2008
June 2008
April 2008
JazzFestLive CDs (updated)
More new Neville releases on the way
March 2008February 2008First single from Cyril's new CD
More info about the upcoming Police Tribute CD (updated 2/19)
January 2008Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah, It's Dumpstaphunk!
Aaron on new Daniel Lanois LP (updated January 29)
Aaron on XM Radio in February (updated January 29)
Another excellent Keith Spera article about Aaron
Cyril and Gaynielle mentioned in Offbeat Weekly Beat
Meters CDs recently reissued in the UK
Possible Neville Brothers soundtrack contribution from 1986
A couple interesting rarities show up on eBay
Cyril appears on upcoming Police tribute CD
Theme from "The Wire" coming to CD (updated 1-9-08)
Funky Meters Jamcruise performance on iClips network
December 2008
DID ART APPEAR ON SECOND JERRY BYRNE RECORDING?
While surfing the web, looking for information about Jerry Byrne's excellent single, "Lights Out," we discovered that a second song, "Honey Baby" was laid down on tape at the same recording session, allegedly utilizing the same backing musicians. (The two songs were released on opposite sides of the same 45rpm single in 1958.)
Fans of Poppa Funk are no doubt aware of his oft-praised piano solo on "Lights Out." Assuming that the aforementioned information is accurate, it seems very likely that Art also played on "Honey Baby." As such, we have added it to the discography (with a note indicating that the contribution is very likely, despite its not being definite.
Read an article about Byrne, written by Finnish Rockabilly afficianado, Tapio Vaisanen by clicking HERE.
We just discovered two more guest appearances by brother Cyril. The first is on a CD by Austin, TX duo, The Just Desserts. The second (which appears to be available only on MySpace) is by AK of the Antigravity Crew, a Hip Hop / Rap / Psychobilly group (also hailing from Austin.)
In September, we mentioned Aaron's appearance on the soundtrack to the upcoming motion picture, "Dark Streets." Last month, we announced the digital release of the movie's soundtrack recording. Finally, the album has been issued on CD for those who prefer CDs over digital downloads.
The disc can be ordered from Amazon.com
This announcement just arrived via the funky METERS' MySpace Page...
‘Bill’s Birthday Bash’
A Benefit for The Bill Graham Memorial Foundation
funky Meters featuring Cyril Neville
Marcia Ball
The San Francisco Mime Troupe 50th Anniversary CelebrationSpecial Guest BONNIE RAITT with Hutch Hutchinson
Saturday, January 10th, 2009 General Admission: $50.00
The Fillmore, 1805 Geary Street, San Francisco
Doors 8 Show 9 PMTickets On Sale Now!
San Francisco, California - Bill Graham was the first concert producer to bring the likes of BB King, Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker and Jimmy Reed to The Fillmore’s white audiences – pairing blues, with rock and roll, comedy and mime. This year at ‘Bill’s Birthday Bash’, the Foundation celebrates this link to blues and American Roots music by presenting the funky Meters featuring Cyril Neville, Marcia Ball and The San Francisco Mime Troupe Celebrating their 50th Anniversary and Special Guest Bonnie Raitt - an exciting combination of talent befitting Bill’s long legacy of presenting eclectic artists together on stage and celebrating Bill’s long standing relationship with the San Francisco Mime Troupe. Bill died in a helicopter accident in 1991, and this would have been his 78th Birthday. Saturday, January 10th, 2009 at The Fillmore at 1805 Geary Street in San Francisco. Doors 8 PM and Show 9 PM. Tickets are $50.00 and on sale now.
To Purchase tickets via phone, please call 415-421-TIXS or go to http://www. livenation. com/edp/eventId/401242
A limited number of exclusive VIP packages are available. Proceeds will benefit the Bill Graham Memorial Foundation. Package Includes: One (1) reserved seat Pre-show VIP hospitality reception: Two (2) premium drink tickets : Complimentary parking: Autographed event poster: Surprise Raffle: Package price: $250 each.
For additional information, please email: bgmfvip@slotix.com
The Bill Graham Memorial Foundation recently announced their grant recipients for 2009, giving close to $200,000 in arts funding. The Bill Graham Memorial Foundation has given grants totaling almost $2 million dollars to worthy organizations in the areas of music and arts education, social work, environmental protection, spiritual and compassionate projects. In keeping with the spirit of the late, great impresario Bill Graham who always supported the "little guy", The Bill Graham Memorial Foundation seeks to assist those whose needs are often times not served by larger philanthropic organizations.
See the grants posted at
www. billgrahammemorialfoundation. org
Contact: Gaynell Rogers 415.298.1114 or Katrina Markarian 707.578.6728
gaynell@pressandrelease.biz / Katrina@pressandrelease.biz
Visit us on the Web at www. pressandrelease. biz
Two years ago, we featured a story about what we believe to be the rarest (and most valuable) Neville Brothers 45, "Sweet Honey Dripper" b/w "Dance Your Blues Away" (on the band's own Cookie label.)
At that time, we reported that collectors should expect to pay $150 or more for this gem (and twice that for a copy with the ultra-rare record company sleeve.)
Recently, two copies of the single have been sold on eBay. On November 17th, a copy was sold for $315.00 and on November 29, a copy in Japan was sold for a whopping $425.00! It looks like the current economic recession hasn't affected the value of Neville Brothers recordings!
To read our original article about this rare single, click HERE.
November 2008
This article about (and interview with) Cyril appeared in "Offbeat" Magazine back in January 2008. Unfortunately, we missed reporting about it until now.
This just in, courtesy of "Offbeat" Magazine's "Weekly Beat" newsletter...
THE STATE OF THE BLACK WORLD
There will likely be a lot to talk about this week at the State of the Black World Conference, which is being held here in New Orleans. Most of the events are only for registered attendees, but on Saturday night, Cyril Neville and Tribe 13 headline a show that is open to the public at the Morial Convention Center. Also on the bill are poets Haki Madhubuti and Sonia Sanchez, and invited guest Talib Kweli. For more, go to StateOfTheBlackWorld.org.
It's rare that we discuss non-Neville recordings but this one crossed our desk recently and we feel that it is too good to let go by without any mention.
A fellow Neville fan recently sent us a recording of a Neville Brothers performance for the Nevilletracks live music archive. Not only did he include the Nevilles' set, but also that of the warm-up band (which goes by the name Trick Bag and hails from Chelmsford, MA.) Upon listening to their set, we did some research about the band to verify that they really come from the Northeast because these guys sound like they're right out of the Crescent City. The songs they played that day were very enjoyable and the performance was both tight and funky, featuring the tunes "Popcorn," "Pet The Cat," "Cubed," "Hip Shot" and "On The Strip." As it turns out, they recently released a CD titled "Hip Shot" (which is available through CD Baby and Amazon.com or can be downloaded from Amazon's mp3 store or iTunes.)
We haven't received our copy of the disc yet, but the previews we've heard (and the live recording we received) make us feel safe in recommending the disc and guaranteeing an enjoyable, funky-good time for fans of New Orleans funk. (And, the fact that Meter-man George Porter, Jr. has praised the disc is high praise indeed.)
You can check out more about the band at its official site as well as its MySpace page.
According to the November 6, 2008 "Weekly Beat" from Offbeat Magazine...
One of New Orleans' original "girl groups," the Dixie Cups, have recently been inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame. The original members, Barbara Hawkins, Rosa Hawkins and Joan Johnson, along with extended family member Athelgra Neville will travel to Youngstown, OH to participate in the induction ceremony.
Congratulations, ladies!
Most of you are probably aware that the Nevilles' sister, Athelgra, has had a long association with the famous girl-group (extending back to their earliest days, when they were still known as the Mel-Tones) and can be seen performing with them on the "From the Big Apple to the Big Easy" DVD.
October 2008
We just received word about Aaron's upcoming shows via his MySpace page...Oct 14, 2008 6:31 PM
Aaron Neville Holiday Tour Announced!!It is with great pleasure that I announce my upcoming holiday tour. I will be hitting the road for a 15 city tour starting in Great Barrington, MA on Friday, November 28th and ending in New Orleans on Sunday, December 21st. I will be backed by a quintet featuring my brother Charles Neville on Sax. The show will focus on timeless holiday standards from my albums “Christmas Prayer” and “Soulful Christmas” alongside hits spanning my career.
I am looking forward to sharing this holiday season with you! Check out all the dates here.
AARON NEVILLE HOLIDAY TOUR DATES:
FRI 11/28/08 | The Mahaiwe Theater | Great Barrington, MA
SAT 11/29/08 | North Shore Music Theatre | Beverly, MA
SUN 11/30/08 | The Birchmere | Alexandria, VA
TUE 12/2/08 | Rams Head On Stage | Annapolis, MD
WED 12/3/08 | Rams Head On Stage | Annapolis, MD
FRI 12/5/08 | Wildhorse | Nashville, TN
SAT 12/6/08 | Center for Perf. Arts | University Park, IL
SUN 12/7/08 | Grand Casino Hinckley | Hinckley, MN
FRI 12/12/08 | Glema Mahr Center | Madisonville, KY
SAT 12/13/08 | Belterra Resort & Casino | Florence, IN
TUE 12/16/08 | House Of Blues | Houston, TX
WED 12/17/08 | Paramount Theatre | Austin, TX
FRI 12/19/08 | Riverdone-Horshoe Hotel | Bossier City, LA
SAT 12/20/08 | Saenger Theater | Mobile, AL
SUN 12/21/08 | House Of Blues | New Orleans, LA
Back in June 2007, we shared some info about a neat Neville-related recording we found on MySpace, "Ain't It Funny," by David Treadway. The song is blessed with contributions from Poppa Funk and the late Eric Kolb, the long-time keyboard technician and friend to the Nevilles!)We finally got around to writing to Mr. Treadway, asking if the song is available for purchase and received a very nice response from him just this morning…
"This song was used on my demo CD back in 1995 and also used to promote our social activism with The Captain Immunity Project. The Captain Immunity Project promotes HIV awareness and Art also helped as part of a radio interview recorded at that time... You can hear this interview at www.captainimmunity.net."
If you've never given the track a listen yet, I encourage everyone to visit David's MySpace page and do so; and, if you like the track as much as we do here at Nevilletracks, show David some love and download the song (for a mere 99 cents!)
In his note, David added the following comment, which brought a smile to our faces.
"We hope to record with Art again in the future and plan to include him in our Comic book if we ever publish it."
Sounds like fun! Thanks, David!
Click HERE to visit David's MySpace page
Click HERE to visit the CaptainImmunity.net web site to hear Art's interview (The site was available earler, but is down at the moment. Keep trying!)
September 2008
Joining the recent glut of Neville-related CD reissues is an Aaron disc from EMI Gospel, titled "Greatest Gospel Hits." According to both Amazon.com, and TowerRecords.com, the disc is due out on October 28, 2008.
Obviously, Amazon's track listing is incorrect. Tower (and CD Universe) provide the following (incomplete) track listing...
(1) Oh Happy Day
(2) What a Friend We Have In Jesus
(3) Amazing Grace
(4) Ave Maria
(5) Mary Don't You Weep
(6) Change is Gonna Come, A
(7) Banks of the River Jordan
(8) Jesus, Jesus, Jesus
(9) Going Home
(10) Were You There?
(11) ???
(12) ???
New York (September 4, 2008) - Samuel Goldwyn Films announced today that it has acquired U.S. rights to Dark Streets starring Gabriel Mann, Bijou Phillips, Izabella Miko, Elias Koteas and Toledo. Produced by Glenn M. Stewart, Claus Clausen, Andrea Balen and Corina Danckwerts, Dark Streets is based on a stage musical by Stewart titled THE CITY CLUB which made its debut at the 2004 Edinburgh Fringe Festival. The film, directed by Rachel Samuels, was awarded a Special Jury prize at this year's CineVegas where it screened as a work-in-progress… Set against a visually dazzling 1930s backdrop, Dark Streets is the story of a dashing but, naïve playboy who owns the hottest nightclub in town. Surrounded by the blues music he adores, and caught in a love triangle between two beautiful singers, he is the envy of every man; until, his charmed life starts to spiral out of control. As he is drawn deeper into a web of lies and betrayal, he no longer knows who to trust and who to fear… The star-studded soundtrack features original songs performed by Etta James, Natalie Cole, Dr. John, Aaron Neville, Solomon Burke and Richie Sambora. These songs were written by a brand new team of writers assembled by Stewart.
Read the entire story HERE.
Thanks to Heather H. for the heads-up on this story!
According to an article in the Aspen Times, "Haynes has surrounded himself with a group of New Orleans players - bassist George Porter, Jr., drummer Raymond Weber and keyboardist Ivan Neville - plus English keyboardist Ian McLagan for another project that he has begun recording. That album, he said, focuses on soul music, with original songs done in a style that recalls his early soul influences."
Read the entire article HERE.
As promised, here is the second - and final - part of our quest for the holy grail ... the Great Unreleased Neville Recording. We know that this research has raised as many questions as it has answered, but it seems safe to say that the Nevilles have written (and recorded) a LOT more music than any of us has heard!
August 2008
According to the Mickey's Zoo Blog, among Universal Music's other upcoming releases is one from brother Aaron, titled "Christmas & Hits Duos." Unfortunately, there is no further information about the release posted, but it seems likely that it will be a compilation of previously-released recordings. We'll report more information as it comes in.
Thanks to Heather H. for the information!
Users of Facebook should be sure to check out the funky METERS and Aaron Neville pages on that site!
(updated 8-20-08)
In our quest to discover every known Neville recording, we research a wide variety of sources for information. For us, the discovery of an unreleased Neville song is something of a "Holy Grail." While searching the US Copyright Office's web site recently, MANY unissued Neville tracks were "discovered."
In some cases, the songs were written by one or more of the Nevilles and recorded by other artists. (One perfect example of this is Bette Midler's "Cradle Days," which was written by Tony Berg and brother Aaron!)
In other instances, songs are known to have been written and/or recorded by the Nevilles, despite their never having been commercially released. (A tune called "Louisiana Woman," written by brother Charles, was recorded during sessions for the Brothers' debut LP, but was never released.) It's not uncommon for record companies to have bands record a few extra songs while recording an LP (for possible use on singles or in case anoher album track is suddenly deemed unworthy of inclusion on the album. We are aware of several other tracks which were recorded but not released; without a doubt, there are MANY others, which remain unknown to us here at Nevilletracks.
In a third scenario, songs have been written and copyrighted, despite never having been properly recorded.
We are currently attempting to sort through the dozens of songs we found, hoping to be able to present them in an organized and interesting fashion. Due to the large number of songs we have discovered, we will be exploring a few at a time, spread out over several articles.
PART ONE: THE US COPYRIGHT OFFICE
PART TWO: BMI INFORMATION (coming soon)
It looks like several labels are jumping on the "Neville Brothers 30th Anniversary Bandwagon" by releasing (or should I say, RE-releasing) some of the Brothers' recordings. A company in the UK has reissued the Brothers' self-titled debut LP on Capitol Records.
Another company is releasing a "Best Of" collection. Country of origin is also unknown (although American CD dealers are calling it an import.) The disc was scheduled for release last week, but none of our normal suppliers has received a copy yet, so the disc may have been delayed.
Universal Music in Japan is releasing a Neville Brothers Greatest Hits collection on SHM-CD (a Super High Material CD, which is alleged to be of superior quality to standard CDs, although we've read mixed reviews re any actual improvement in sound quality.) That disc is due in early September.
As of yet, we are unsure how many of these (if any) are truly authorized releases. Keep in mind that we don't endorse (or encourage the purchase of) ANY unauthorized releases. More information will be reported as we learn more.
Hopefully, our well-connected source was correct when he informed us that we would be seeing new authorized releases when the Brothers' current tour wraps up at the end of October.
I guess we'll just have to sit back and wait for now, until an official announcement about a new release comes from the Brothers or their management.
July 2008
I received the following message in my e-mail yesterday.
iClips.net Presents
a Live Web Broadcast of
Gathering of the Vibes
August 1 - 3, 2008Featuring Phil Lesh, The Black Crowes, Neville Bros., Umphrey's McGee, and many more!
Check iClips.net or GatheringOfTheVibes.com
near the dates of the broadcast for an updated broadcast schedule.Broadcast times are subject to change. This is a live broadcast, viewer discretion is strongly advised. It is recommended to review the iClips.net Live Stream FAQ well before the start of the broadcast.
The first compact disc was released in 1982.
In 1987, a notorious reissue label in Europe released a compilation of Aaron's late 60's / mid 70s recordings as well as one comprised of several of the Meters' Josie recordings, all without the knowledge or approval of the Nevilles. Since then, over 80 compilations have been released, almost 2/3 of which are unauthorized! We have decided to create a new page, featuring those compilations, which ARE authorized. (Out of respect for the Nevilles' wishes, we are still not including any unauthorized releases on this site.)
We are ASSUMING that any compilation, manufactured or licensed by Universal Music (or its subsidiaries) is an authorized release. If anyone knows otherwise, PLEASE let us know so we can remove the unauthorized disc(s) from the page.
Two releases are being included on the page, simply because they have been included on the funky Meters web site for many years, even though we are not really certain that these discs are authorized.
Update: A permanent link has now been added to this site's homepage, but it is still possible to get there by clicking HERE. Please note that this section is still under construction. More information will be added about each disc as time permits.
June 2008
According to CD Universe, this is the track listing for "Aaron Neville Gold" (due for release on June 24.)
The set features a good cross-section of his 48 year recording history, although there are no tracks included from either of his two gospel albums, "Devotion" (2000) or "Believe" (2003.)
If track #2 is actually the original single version, it will be the first time it has appeared on CD. The song has appeared countless times on unauthorised reissues, but that oft-reissued version is one which is missing the vibraphone overdubs, heard on the original 45.
DISC ONE:
1. Over You
2. Show Me the Way
3. Let's Live
4. I'm Waiting At the Station
5. How Could I Help But Love You
6. Tell It Like It is
7. Why Worry
8. Jailhouse
9. Mojo Hannah
10. Hercules
11. Greatest Love, The
12. Arianne - (featuring The Neville Brothers)
13. Ten Commandments of Love, The
14. For Your Precious Love
15. Pledging My Love
16. Stardust - (featuring Rob Wasserman)
17. Don't Know Much - (featuring Linda Ronstadt)
18. Change is Gonna Come, A - (featuring The Neville Brothers)DISC TWO:
1. All My Life - (featuring Linda Ronstadt)
2. Everybody Plays the Fool
3. Close Your Eyes - (featuring Linda Ronstadt)
4. Louisiana 1927
5. Don't Go, Please Stay
6. Angola Bound
7. Warm Your Heart
8. Don't Take Away My Heaven
9. Bells, The
10. You Never Can Tell
11. Grand Tour, The
12. Betcha By Golly, Wow
13. Save the Last Dance For Me
14. Use Me
15. Say What's In My Heart
16. To Make Me Who I Am
17. Very Thought of You, The - (featuring Linda Ronstadt)
18. People Get Ready - (featuring David Sanborn/Art Neville)
I received an email recently from musician, Mike DeLacerda, correcting the information I had listed regarding Ivan's contributions to his 2004 LP, "American Gypsy." I had listed that Ivan contributed to one track, while he had actually played on three ("Sunshine Bridge," "Song Over The Line" and "In Everything Change.") Mike also mentioned that Ivan came up with the bass line for "Where's The Justice" (although, to quote Mike, "he didn't play it, Jimmy Mesa from the Subdudes played the actual part.")
It is because of people like Mike that this discography is as complete as it is. I send out my heartfelt thanks to Mike and others like him who have helped to make Nevilletracks what it is!
Mike's CD can be purchased through the Louisiana Music Factory or CD Baby or downloaded from iTunes or Amazon.com.
May 2008
"Offbeat" Magazine ran an article in its "2008 JazzFest Bible," comparing various recordings of the song, "St. James Infirmary." In that article, Rob Walker mentions having heard rumor that Art has recorded the song for his forthcoming solo LP!
The same issue ran an excellent article by Alex Rawls titled, "We Are Family." Click HERE to read that article.
Click the image above to visit "Offbeat"'s web site. Click HERE to visit the Angela King Gallery's website, where you can see the Patterson & Barnes painting of the Neville Brothers, which was reprodced on the "Offbeat" cover, in addition to many other New Orleans-related paintings.
I still haven't found a track listing for this upcoming 2-CD set, but here is the CD cover artwork...
The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival Live Webcast Exclusively on AT&T blue room!
Mark your calendars now! The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival (Jazz Fest) webcast is right around the corner! LIVE on the blue room May 3rd and 4th starting at 2PM EST. Featuring the best performances from the festival, the live webcast will include taped highlights from the first weekend.
The May 3rd webcast will include performances by Cyril Neville with the Voice of the Wetlands All-Stars.
The May 4th webcast will feature performances by The Neville Brothers, Dumpstaphunk and Art Neville!
Click HERE for details.
April 2008
It looks like MunckMusic will be recording and selling copies of many of this year's Jazz Fest performances (just like they've done since 2004.) Shows can be downloaded OR purchased on CD. (In past years, MunckMusic has been able to prep some of the recordings quickly enough to sell them at the Fest!)
Aaron Neville's Gospel Soul*, Ivan Neville's Dumpstaphunk and Art Neville* are all on the list of shows planned for release in their "Jazz Fest Live" series. (No mention so far of the Neville Brother's performance's being released.)
Click HERE to order these 2008 shows, as well as past shows by Dumpstaphunk (2007, 2006, 2005,) the Neville Brothers (2005,) the Original Meters (2005) and Charmaine Neville (2007.)
* (UPDATE) As of today, April 29th, the Art Neville and Aaron Neville's Gospel Soul recordings have been removed from MunckMusic's release schedule.
According to Jomar Records' web site, "Healing Dance" (the new CD from Cyril Neville & Tribe 13) is now available. You can order it from the Louisiana Music Factory by clicking HERE.
I've always made it a practice NOT to pass along rumors, but an EXTREMELY reliable source has informed me that the new Neville EP ("Heart and Soul of New Orleans [Live]") is only the beginning of what we Neville fans can expect to see this year! In fact, my source's information felt more like a WARNING... The amount of Neville music being released in the near future will be staggering!
There is too much information to post here, so I have posted it on a separate page. Please click HERE for ALL of the news!
New Neville Brothers Band bass player, Ben Jones posted the following message on his MySpace page on Saturday, January 26, 2008 ...
neville brothers confirmed!
hey folks...
it looks as though i will be joining 'the heart and soul of new orleans', the Neville Brothers, starrting in march. this marks the 30th anniversary of this legendary band. this is truly an honor and a blessing & i will look forward to seeing all of you if we're playing in your town! a new recording is also in the works, probably in the fall, of which i will also be a part. again, a true honor!
make sure you also check out the Neville Brothers myspace page...you can find it in my top 12!
more to come
ben
Satchmo.com has the release date listed as 6/24/08.
Amazon.com shows a May 6th release date.
I tend to believe Satchmo's information more than Amazon's. Still no word on the songs being included on the disc(s).
March 2008
There are several additions to the discography this month. In addition to his work with Dumpstaphunk, Ivan has been very busy, contributing keyboards or vocals to a large number of recordings by other artists (including Big Sam's Funk Nation*, Paul Sanchez, Gary Allegretto and John Boutte.)
"Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah" (Dumpstaphunk's contribution to the Funky Kidz compilation mentioned here in January) is now available for download at iTunes.**
Charles contributed to two albums by Brian Bender. "Urban Jungle was released in 2007. "Eyn Velt" was released in 2008.
* Thanks to Heather Hennessy for the information about the Big Sam's Funky Nation release
** Thanks to Frank Garcia for the iTunes/Funky Kidz information
In addition to the previously announced "Better Half" single, the new song "Si Se Puede" can be heard on the Jomar Records web site. (Click the logo below.)
The song can also be heard on Tribe 13's MySpace page
February 2008
(update 5/19/08) Thanks to all who helped search for this rarity! My 14-year search has ended! Honestly, I don't know if my copy is used or new, but it looks to be in perfect condition!
This rare CD was released in Japan in the mid-1990s on the P-Vine Records label. I have been looking for a copy of the CD since then...
08 Sep 1994
Catalogue Number: PCD1916
"Better Half" (the first single for Tribe 13's upcoming CD) can be heard in its entirety at Jomar Records' website. Brother Aaron's voice can also be heard on the song, providing backing vocals.
Click the above logo for the Jomar Records' site.
Click HERE to jump directly to Cyril's page on that site!
"Better Half" is available on either of the above linked pages!
Also discussed on Cyril's new MySpace page is his contribution to the upcoming Police tribute CD (mentioned here in January.)
Cyril joins Reggae Royalty on Shanachie Records "Spirits in the Material World a tribute to the Police. Cyril joins Bob Marley's backing band Inner Circle on a soulful version of "Wrapped Around Your Finger." SPIRITS IN THE MATERIAL WORLD will be released world wide on February 19, 2008.
Click banner above for more information about the CD!
UPDATE 2/19/08... "Spirits in the Material World" is available now from various online retailers and can also be downloaded from Amazon.com and iTunes. I grabbed Cyril's track from iTunes this morning and highly recommend it!
In addition to the Tribe13 page, Cyril now has a separate page on which he discusses the soon-to-be-released Tribe 13 LP, "The Healing Dance."
Cyril Neville signs with Jomar Records. THE HEALING DANCE the new record by Cyril Neville and Tribe 13 will be released in late April just in time for the return of Cyril Neville and the Neville Brothers to the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. Cyril will celebrate the new release on May 3rd at Mid City Rock-n-Bowl in New Orleans.
Also discussed is Cyril's contribution to the upcoming Police tribute CD (mentioned here in January.)
Cyril joins Reggae Royalty on Shanachie Records "Spirits in the Material World a tribute to the Police. Cyril joins Bob Marley's backing band Inner Circle on a soulful version of "Wrapped Around Your Finger." SPIRITS IN THE MATERIAL WORLD will be released world wide on February 19, 2008.
Click HERE to visit Cyril's MySpace page...
From NBA.com...
New Orleans Stars Headline All-Star Performances
Three-time Grammy™ Award-winning multi-platinum singer and pianist Harry Connick Jr. will join Grammy Award-winning jazz and classical saxophonist Branford Marsalis to headline an extraordinary lineup of New Orleans-themed musical performances featuring some of the biggest names in the Bayou including Jonathan Batiste, Marc Broussard and the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Davell Crawford, Jonathan Dubose, Dr. John, Stephanie Jordan, Ellis Marsalis, Art Neville, Ivan Neville, Rebirth Brass Band, Kermit Ruffins, Amanda Shaw, Trombone Shorty and Allen Toussaint at NBA All-Star 2008 in New Orleans.On Sunday, Feb. 17, Connick and Marsalis will take to the court for the 57th NBA All-Star Game at the New Orleans Arena. The Louisiana-born musicians collaborated on the evening's performance lineup creating a unique musical set that will not only give fans a taste of New Orleans jazz, funk and blues, but will also celebrate the rebirth of their beloved hometown in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. The performances will air live on TNT, Score Canada, ESPN Radio, and in 215 countries and territories beginning at 7:30 p.m. CT/8:30 p.m. ET.
Connick will serve as musical director for an unparalleled halftime show featuring four original compositions performed by four pairs of pianists who span the spectrum of New Orleans jazz including Dr. John, Allen Toussaint, Davell Crawford, Art Neville, Ivan Neville, Jonathan Batiste, Ellis Marsalis, and Harry Connick Jr. and his Big Band.
Marsalis will serve as musical director for the highly-anticipated All-Star Player introductions featuring a set of high energy big band melodies composed by Marsalis and performed by the acclaimed Rebirth Brass Band…
"New Orleans is a vibrant music Mecca and I'm proud to call this great city my home," said Harry Connick Jr. "Branford and I are truly grateful to the NBA for its commitment to put New Orleans and our extraordinary musicians on a global stage for the whole world to see."
Go HERE for the complete story...
January 2008
Dumpstaphunk (and a handful of other New Orleans artists) have contributed to a new children's CD titled "FunkyKidz."
Go HERE for more details and to hear samples of the songs on the disc!
HERE is info about Dumpstaphunk's contribution to the disc!
Daniel Lanois (who, as Neville fans will likely know, produced the Brothers' critically acclaimed "Yellow Moon" LP) is set to release a new album in March, featuring contributions from brother Aaron.
Aaron contributed vocals to two songs on Lanois's debut LP, "Acadie" (one of which, "The Maker" also featured the Neville Brothers' backing band.)
At this time, I am not sure which song on this new LP features Aaron's vocals.
While the disc is not due for another two months, it can be downloaded from the manufacturer's web site NOW for $9.99 in either lossy (mp3) or lossless (wav) format. Artwork is included with the download.
UPDATE: I have downloaded and listened to the album a couple times and haven't yet noticed Aaron's voice on any of the tracks. (This is not to say that he isn't there, buried in the mix with other singers.) However, Lanois also released a documentary of the same title on which Aaron appeared. I suspect that my information source may have confused the documentary and the CD. I will do my best to clear up this confusion.
Aaron's "Artist Confidential" radio special from December 2006 is being re-aired as part of the satellite radio service's celebration of Black History Month.
UPDATE: Unfortunately, XM's website still has information from LAST February on their site. As a result, the information and link I posted a few days ago was incorrect. Here is the correct info. (Thanks to Frank Garcia for catching the error!!!!)
Aaron Neville
Mon, 2/11 (XMX - XM 2)
Aaron Neville gives a funky performance with his tight band and a compelling Q&A session with fans.
Go HERE for more information.
Another Keith Spera article from the Times Picayune...
The article includes the best JazzFest news ever... "Art Neville will showcase his 50-year career with his first Jazzfest solo set two days before the Neville Brothers return to their traditional closing slot on the second Sunday."
For those who are not able to attend the Fest, keep your fingers crossed that MunckMusic will be recording the Fest again this year and that Art's set will be recorded for posterity!!!
Read it HERE
Archived HERE
As has been widely publicized, the Neville Brothers will be making their highly-anticipated return to the JazzFest this year. In addition to the Brothers' set. Closing out the Fest, brothers Art and Aaron will each have solo shows as well!
Of course, Charmaine and Dumpstaphunk will be there again this year (as they have been every year since Katrina.) And, I wouldn't be surprised to see Ivan again sitting in with various other bands as he has in the past.
The complete schedule for the Fest has been announced and can be found HERE.
Friday, May 2 - Art Neville
Saturday, May 3 - Aaron Neville's Gospel Soul
Saturday, May 3 - Charmaine Neville
Sunday. May 4 - The Neville Brothers
Sunday. May 4 - Ivan Neville & Dumpstaphunk
Keith Spera, the music writer for the Times Picayune, has written another excellent article about Aaron. The article discusses Aaron's life since losing Joel and his recent collaborations with Dr. John.
Original article can be found HERE.
I have archived it HERE.
* Thanks to Marie-Jose for telling me about this article!
Excerpted from "Offbeat" magazine's "Weekly Beat"…
GREETINGS!
My Weekly Two Cents...We're all breathing a sigh of relief at the OffBeat offices because our annual "Big Event"--the Best of The Beat Awards--was held last week. It's over-- whew, it's a lot of work!--and if you got the chance to attend either event, I know you enjoyed yourself.
I was really sorry we didn't have the crowd we did at the beginning of the night for Cyril Neville, who did a killer set to end the show at the House of Blues. Welcome back, Cyril and Gaynielle! We knew you couldn't stay gone forever.
You can find a recap of the event on our web site, and we'll be uploading a lot of pictures soon. …
Thanks for supporting Louisiana music and culture!
Jan Ramsey,
Publisher/Editor-in-Chief* Thanks to Heather for pointing this out to me
Found at EURWEB.COM ... "Crossover jazz label Heads Up International has signed a cappella group Take 6 to its roster, reports Billboard. The group's as-yet-untitled album - a mix of jazz standards and original songs - is due in August with Aaron Neville among the guest artists."
I can't help wondering if this Aaron/Take 6 collaboration will be a new recording or if they simply will be including the available (by download only) song, "Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans" from 2006. As always, I'll let you know when I learn more about this upcoming release...
I learned about this back in 1992 while reading "Goldmine," a record-collector's magazine. For some reason, it slipped my mind until very recently. I have never been able to verify the accuracy of the article; and, after seeing the movie and hearing the song to which the Nevilles allegedly contributed, I have to call it a "definite maybe" (even though I should probably classify it as "most likely" since the source of the information is quite credible.)
The motion picture in question, David Byrne's "True Stories" was released in 1986. According to the Wikipedia... "'True Stories' features a number of songs written by Byrne and performed by various members of the cast, as well as by Byrne's band, Talking Heads (the members of which make cameo appearances.)
"Talking Heads released a popular album entitled 'True Stories' in which they perform most of the songs from the film, including songs that were performed by the actors in the movie itself. As such, the album is not generally considered a true soundtrack album. Later, Byrne released an album containing instrumental music from the soundtrack entitled 'Sounds from True Stories,' though it was never released on CD. While several of the cast performances were released as bonus tracks on 12-inch single releases, no full album of cast performances has yet been released..."
Unfortunately, one of the cast performances from the movie, which has never been released is one titled "Hey Now." In the "Goldmine" article mentioned previously, David Byrne himself was quoted as having said, "On 'Hey Now,'the
children singing were backed up by the
Neville Brothers on instruments and backing
vocals."
I haven't watched the movie in 15 years. My ears might detect the Nevilles' contribution(s) more clearly today than they did back when I first saw the movie. Until I am able to watch the movie again, I must stick to my "definite maybe" assessment.
The "Goldmine" article mentioned above is available online at Talking-Heads.net.
During the past week, a couple very interesting Neville-related items have shown up on the popular on-line auction site, eBay. Unfortunately, I was unable to obtain either item personally.
The first of these is an acetate of Art's rare Cinderella 45, "My Babe" / "My Dear Dearest Darling." A stock copy of the 45 sells for around $25.00. This one-of-a-kind test pressing ended up selling for $28.00. (If my memory serves me correctly, these acetates wear out after only one or two plays, so this record is one to be appreciated for its uniqueness and not one to be played.)
Another, even more intriguing item up for auction was a set of Linda Ronstadt / Aaron Neville 32-track studio master tapes from Ultrasonic Studios (in New Orleans.) I knew from the start that this item would sell for a price well beyond my reach. The selling price was $510 , actually a bit lower than I was expecting.
Then again, one never knows what he/she is getting when buying an item like this. It might prove to be a goldmine of unreleased recordings for the buyer or it might end up being nothing more than a couple of blank tapes!
How these tapes ever got out of Ultrasonic Studios will probably remain a mystery. The studios were destroyed by Katrina. More than likely, the tapes walked right out the front door without anyone even noticing.
From Stingus.net...
Record Label Shanachie Entertainment will release SPIRITS IN THE MATERIAL WORLD: A REGGAE TRIBUTE TO THE POLICE on February 19, 2008.
SPIRITS IN THE MATERIAL WORLD: A REGGAE TRIBUTE TO THE POLICE unites an all-star aggregation of Jamaican and American artists who reclaim and amplify the reggae element in the Police's music by doing overtly reggae versions of a hand-picked set of Police hits and favorite album tracks. This new CD, features such renowned artists as Inner Circle, Toots & The Maytals, Gregory Isaacs, Joan Osborne, Horace Andy, The Wailing Souls, Ali Campbell of UB40, Junior Reid, Lee "Scratch" Perry, Cyril Neville of the Neville Brothers, Tarrus Riley, Pepper and Monk Boudreaux.
More info from the Steve Hoffman Forum...
Each artist on SPIRITS IN THE MATERIAL WORLD: A REGGAE TRIBUTE TO THE POLICE was asked to pick a Police song which they felt would be suitable for their style; many of the Jamaican artists had been involved in cross-over projects before…. Cyril Neville of The Neville Brothers has long demonstrated his love of reggae through his band Cyril Neville and The Uptown All-Stars… "Reggae became for me the musical canvas that I could freely paint, in words, what I witnessed in my life and times; the good, the bad and the ugly," shares Cyril Neville of The Neville Brothers. "The Police are one of my favorite groups and I like their song writing the most. Their arrangements have elements of different genres and that appealed to my New Orleans second-line senses. Their lyrics show a broad, realistic, and well-read view of the world we all share. The Beatles meets the Meters, maybe?"…All in all, the artists on SPIRITS IN THE MATERIAL WORLD take the songs of the Police in a deeper, more forceful direction. Their interpretations show that the reggae element in the Police music was more integral than many may have realized.
"Way Down in the Hole," the oft-requested theme song from the HBO series, "The Wire" is finally coming to CD on January 8th!
The 1:38 recording by the Neville Brothers is included on "The Wire: And All the Pieces Matter - Five Years of Music from the Wire" (which will be available through online retailers such as Amazon.com and CDUniverse and at your favorite local music store!)
Update January 9, 2008:
Upon reviewing several of the legal music downloading services, it appears that "Way Down in the Hole" is currently available on Amazon.com and iTunes but can only be obtained when the entire album is purchased and downloaded. At this time, Walmart.com's download service isn't offering the track at all. (The song is listed on Rhapsody, but I have no idea what its availability is.)
So, at this time, it looks like we'll need to buy the entire album (either via download or from one of our favorite music retailers) in order to get this oft-requested Neville Brothers recording.
The Funky Meters' performance on the 2008 Jamcruise can be viewed online at www.iClips.net.
Click on the above link and then click on the link that says Jamcruise6. From there, you'll see a link for the funky Meters' performance. In addition to Poppa Funk and Ian's usual top-notch performances, Neville fans are treated to guest appearances by Ivan as well.
You may need to register to view the videos, but it's well worth it.
