New York, NY (Top40 Charts/ Mindsweep Entertainment) In reviewing Johnny Neel's latest CD, "Every Kinda Blues …But What You're Used To" in both, my professional and personal opinion, I make no bones about it, I think it is quite simply THE finest blues album to hit the music world since his own classic, "Late Night Breakfast", (released in 2000).
Johnny Neel's latest release is nothing short of a monstrously, mindblowing blues masterpiece with soul-stirring lyrics and strong, riveting vocals, combined with superior instrumental performances to produce a sonic tour-de-force that redefines the blues for our time and sets a new standard for the genre going forward.
Johnny Neel, (Keyboards/Vocals/Harmonica/Keytar Slide), once again outdoes even himself and breaks new ground with this no-holds-barred collection of 11 solidly crafted and masterfully produced songs that are as varied as they are awe-inspiring.
Johnny Neel and band opens up this smooth riding, sweet stylin' musical joy ride in full-gear with the hard-driving bass and drum-driven title cut, "Every Kinda Blues", featuring sizzling hot harmonica and guitar riffs, that will drive you from your seat to your feet, (getting your groove on), with a profound quickness.
Johnny then slows down the pace a notch or two with the excellent funky, honky-tonk number, "Right Out the Window," graced with a beautiful use of horns and classic Johnny Neel-style piano.
The mood soon changes as Johnny Neel and band make a dramatic transition with a slow, quiet, (and almost classical), organ intro leading into the deep, soulful blues/rock cut, "Won't Lay Me Down." From there, he rockets into "I'm Gonna Love You," a moving, jazzy tune with a wicked groove courtesy of some extremely slick drum maneuvers. On the next song, "Sunday Morning Rain," Johnny Neel delivers another smooth, soulful blues number that magically transports you right into the feeling of one of those lazy, rainy Sunday mornings, with a message that delivers hope that the sun will shine again.
The second half of the album kicks off with "Johnny Needs a Shot," a rockabilly/roots rock-influenced song where funky, slick, hard-driving bass and drum work merge seamlessly with Johnny Neal's top-of-line keyboard playing to make you want to get up and dance. "How to Play the Blues" follows suit with a moving, relatable blues ballad showcasing Johnny Neel's full range of vocal prowess. After that, things slow down once more as we are taken deep into the blues, (and makes us feel good all at the same time!); with an absolutely phenomenal live version of "Murdered by Love", featuring a house-shaking harmonica solo and some slinky, funky, totally bad @$$ed bad guitar picking!
Johnny Neel then cranks it up again with "Mighty Mississippi," where we are entreated to deep, muddy, funky Mississippi Delta blues at its best. Another musical departure awaits us in the smooth sounds and sweet guitar work of "I Wanna Know the Way". And in a final brilliant flourish, Johnny Neal gifts us with a solo voice and piano performance of the beautiful, moving, soul-felt, ballad, "My Kind of People".
To give fans a little sample of this tasty musical morsel, check out the video of Johnny performing "My Kind of People" live on WZTV Fox 17, (Nashville), "Tennessee Mornings" TV program.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwoaxBvPd0g ...What a GREAT SONG!
Johnny Neel, as always, works with no one but THE BEST, and the stellar lineup of supporting musicians on "Every Kinda Blues" is led by
Dennis Gulley, who in addition to his superior bass playing for Johnny Neel's "Every Kinda' Blues," "Gun Metal Blue," and "Late Night Breakfast,"
Dennis Gulley is a highly-credited producer and engineer, and is credited for co-producing "Every Kinda Blues" with Johnny Neel also co-producing this great album.
("Every Kinda Blues" by the way, was recorded at Johnny Neel's own studio, Straight Up Sound Studio, located at 2730 Westwood Drive, Nashville, Tennessee 37204. The quality of sound recording on "Every Kinda' Blues ...But What You're Used to" is a testimony in and of itself to the great sound produced at this studio. For more info on Straight Up Sound Studio one can make a visit to their website at www.straightupsoundstudio.com and/or call 615-279-0322.)
Other contributing musicians on include:
Guitars: Jack Pearson, Anthony Basso,
Danny Hamlin, Eldon Huff, Luke Davis, Kenny Meeks, and Doug Jones.
Bass:
Dennis Gulley and
Fabio Drusin.
Drums: Daryl Burgess,
Silver Bassi, Kelo Stroud, and Curt Redding.
Percussion: Kelo Stroud.
Backing Vocals: Kim Morrison, Christine Thompson, Shawn Murphy, Eldon Huff,
Dennis Gulley and Randy Russell.
This 11 song smoker of a CD is available for purchase at: CD Baby, iTunes, Amazon, Rhapsody, Facebook
Music Store, and other online music outlets and music stores, and of course, at Johnny Neel's live performances. (Which are nothing short of sizzlin'.)
Johnny Neel's Management is currently seeking and accepting concert and festival dates everywhere to further promote his latest CD release "Every Kinda Blues, ...But what You're Used To"; and would especially like to add more new concert dates in Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Louisiana, Maryland, DC, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Delaware, Idaho, and Colorado.
Then after completing his US tour, Johnny Neel and band would very much be interested in possibly revisiting countries he has previously toured in, and even expand his tour to some countries he has not had the pleasure of performing in yet. Places Johnny Neel is especially interested in gaining concert dates would be, Canada, Mexico, The Caribbean Nations, Central and South American nations, as well as European nations, (Austria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, and of course, all of the United Kingdom); Asian destinations such as Japan, Singapore, Thailand, etc; and certainly Australia. ...And of course, anywhere and everywhere fans demand.
