07 August 2013
Andy Snipper
Cyril Neville will be releasing his new album 'Magic Honey' on Sept 10th in the UK and will be touring with the Royal Southern Brotherhood.
Neville is described as "Singer. Poet. Percussionist. Neville Brother, Meters legend, solo star and talisman of the South’s all-conquering new supergroup, Royal Southern Brotherhood." and his career has spanned 45 years since he first turned professional with his brothers in the legendary Neville Brothers.
He says . “I’m extremely proud of this record,” notes Cyril of his latest signature dish. “It’s a tasteful, well-cooked musical gumbo that I think will be pleasing to the palates of music lovers.”
'Magic Honey' is the kind of genre-slipping statement that’s only possible when you’ve got a crack musical squad pulling together, and as Cyril began putting the heat under this gumbo at Studio In The Country, Bogalusa, Louisiana, he was flanked by plenty of capable cooks. On production, David Z lived up to his mighty reputation – earned alongside Prince, Buddy Guy, Etta James and more – creating an organic sound on Magic Honey that pulsed and breathed. “I waited a long time to work with David Z,” says Cyril of the partnership, “and I feel the wait was well worth it. I love how the record turned out and look forward to working with him again, soon.”
Out on the floor, meanwhile, a bedrock of first-call musicians locked into a musical telepathy that meant the LA sessions felt less like a dry box-ticking exercise and more like a group epiphany. “Making this record was a spiritual, musical event,” agrees Cyril. “The musicians and I approached it like it was an important gig we were playing. All the tracks are first takes. The atmosphere was just that electric. All the way live! And I was blessed with the best rhythm section for the occasion in ‘Mean’ Willie Green (drums), Cranston Clements (guitar), Carl Dufrene (bass) and Norman Caesar (keys).”
Along with a dash of Neville family DNA – courtesy of Gaynielle Neville and Omari Neville on soaring backup vocals – there’s also a sprinkle of celebrity stardust, with New Orleans veteran Allen Toussaint handling the keys on the cuckolded shuffle of Another Man, Dr. John on organ for Swamp Funk, ex-Bluesbreakers axeman Walter Trout boiling up Running Water and Cyril’s Royal Southern Brotherhood bandmate Mike Zito lending muscular riffing to Money and Oil and Working Man.
On tour with the Royal Southern Brotherhood + Special Guest Samantha Fish:
Sep 21 UK Newcastle, The Cluny
Sep 22 UK Edinburgh, The Caves
Sep 24 UK Southampton, The Brook
Sep 25 UK London, Under The Bridge + Samantha Fish
Sep 26 UK Wolverhampton, Robin 2 + Samantha Fish
Sep 27 UK Derby, Flower Pot + Samantha Fish
Sep 28 UK Sutton, Boom Boom Club + Samantha Fish
Sep 30 UK Milton Keynes, The Stables + Samantha Fish
Oct 03 FRA Paris, Le Divan du Monde + Samantha Fish
Oct 04 FRA Avignon, Avignon Blues Festival
Oct 05 FRA Clermont Ferrand, La Coopérative de Mai
Oct 06 FRA Alencon, La Luciole
Oct 31 UK London, Royal Albert Hall Bluesfest London
Nov 01 S Umea, Umea Folkets Hus + Samantha Fish
Nov 02 S Varnamo, Scandic Hotel + Samantha Fish
Nov 03 S Stockholm, Akkurat + Samantha Fish
Nov 04 DK Godset, Kolding + Samantha Fish
Nov 05 DK Copenhagen, Portalen + Samantha Fish
Nov 07 NO Oslo, Buckleys + Samantha Fish
Nov 08 DK Svendborg, Borgerforeningen + Samantha Fish
Nov 09 DK Esbjerg, Tobakken + Samantha Fish
Nov 10 UK Carlisle Bluesfestival + Samantha Fish
