Music connoisseurs know that IVAN NEVILLE is New Orleans soul and funk royalty. He’s been a key part of two of the most influential groups that New Orleans has ever produced, and he grew up playing with them both. His uncle Art “Poppa Funk” Neville was vocalist and keyboardist with the Meters. Art, of course, also founded the Neville Brothers with Ivan’s uncles Charles and Cyril, and Ivan’s father, the world renowned falsetto balladeer Aaron Neville. The Nevilles’ musical range was vast – soul and funk for sure but they also played with consummate ease carnival rhythms, pop and jazz. In short, the Neville clan have (and indeed still are) an essential ingredient of Black New Orleans’s cultural life!
That status is all set to be further cemented as Ivan Neville prepare to release a new album, ‘Touch My Soul’ – his first solo set in nearly 20 years. We’re told that the long player is a love letter to the Crescent City. Indeed one of the album’s key tracks is ‘The Greatest Place On Earth’ and Ivan leaves us in no doubt about where he’s talking about!
‘Touch My Soul’ is officially released next week (April 21st) but in the meantime, there’s a single to enjoy… an insistent, brassy optimistic ‘Hey All Together’. The track features vocal input from Bonnie Raitt, Aaron Neville, Michael McDonald andDavid Shaw (The Revivalists) with distinctive horn fills from Trombone Shorty. That A list ensemble creates a sort of ‘All You Need Is Love’ vibe.
Ivan says of the song’s inspiration: “When I was growing up, people interacted differently on the street. There was a feeling of connection. I wanted familiar voices to bring back a feeling of community. I figured, if everyone said hello to a stranger, spontaneously but within reason, it might make the world a better place. It certainly can’t hurt.”
IVAN NEVILLE: Hey All Together single out now; Touch My Soul album released April 21st via Mascot Label Group / The Funk Garage.
