Soul/R&B vocalist Aaron Neville has announced a deal with EMI’s Blue Note Records and will release a full-length album this fall.
The record, produced by Keith Richards and Blue Note Records President Don Was, is a collection of classic material from the doo-wop era.
“Aaron Neville is one of the most expressive and soulful artists of all time. It's such a thrill to hear him sing,” Was says. “His vocals have a way of reaching into your heart and stirring something really deep inside. It's a huge honor to welcome him to Blue Note Records and to be involved, along with the legendary Keith Richards, in the production of this album.”
All of the tracks were hand-picked by Neville himself as they are songs that have remained close to his heart since he was a child. “When I was a kid, doo-wop was like medicine to me,” Neville says. “I didn’t care what else was goin’ on in the world as long as I could sing along with Pookie Hudson and The Spaniels, The Flamingos, The Clovers, Sonny Til and The Orioles, Clyde McPhatter — I was like a kid in a candy store.”
A stellar group of session players was assembled to lay down these tracks. In addition to Keith Richards on guitar other musicians include: Greg Leisz on guitar (Beck, Sheryl Crow, Bob Dylan, Ryan Adams), Benmont Tench on organ (founding member of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers), George G. Receli on drums (Bob Dylan, James Brown), and Tony Scherr on bass (Bill Frisell, Norah Jones, Rufus Wainwright). Richards sheds some light on the atmosphere in the studio as he explains, "This was a dream session. The band fell right into the groove and Aaron sang like an angel. It was an honor!”
During Neville’s five decade recording career, he has displayed a chameleon-like ability to perform, collaborate and contribute to a wide range of genres.
From the funky soul and R&B cuts with the Neville Brothers to a triple platinum, Grammy-winning duet with Linda Ronstadt in 1989, “Don’t Know Much” (off an album the duo received two Grammys for), to the title track of 1993’s The Grand Tour which put Neville on the Country charts for the first time, to his several Gospel records including his most recent project, I Know I’ve Been Changed in 2010.
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AARON NEVILLE QUINTET TOUR DATES:
June 23 Greensboro, NC - Carolina Theatre
June 24 Norfolk, VA - 23rd Annual Bayoo Boogaloo
June 26 Charlottesville, VA - Paramount Theatre
June 28 New Orleans, LA - House of Blues
June 30 Beverly, MA - North Shore Music Theatre
July 13 Park City, UT - Big Stars, Bright Nights
July 14 Boulder, CO - Chautauqua Auditorium
July 15 Arvada, CO - Arvada Center Amphitheater
August 4 Charleston, WV - Multi-Fest WV
August 5 Washington, DC - The Howard Theatre
August 7 Ponte Vedra, FL - Ponte Vedra Concert Hall
Damian is Editor-in-Chief of Guitar World magazine. In past lives, he was GW’s managing editor and online managing editor. He's written liner notes for major-label releases, including Stevie Ray Vaughan's 'The Complete Epic Recordings Collection' (Sony Legacy) and has interviewed everyone from Yngwie Malmsteen to Kevin Bacon (with a few memorable Eric Clapton chats thrown into the mix). Damian, a former member of Brooklyn's The Gas House Gorillas, was the sole guitarist in Mister Neutron, a trio that toured the U.S. and released three albums. He now plays in two NYC-area bands.
