Players are - Darnell Neal & Terrell Griffin, Lee Allen (bass), Arnet Hayes, Darrell Jefferson & Orlando Henry (piano), Jason Parfait (sax), Ian Smith (trumpet), Big Nate Williams & Dwayne Dopsie, Anthony Dopsie (accordion), & Rockin Dopsie Jr (washboard), Christone “Kingfish” Ingram (vocals/lead guitar), Brandon Adams (Hammond B3/keyboards/piano/horn arrangements), Michael Harris, Kevin Menard & Bryan Morris (drums), Sharisse Norman & Shontelle Norman-Beatty (bgv vocals), Tito Jackson & Syreeta Neal (vocals). It’s a big, tasty blues ice cream cone – but in 2022 add more sprinkles for the kids. Produced by Neal the LP never loses momentum. Conjure Otis Redding, Percy Sledge - increase its value. “It’s Been So Long,” & “Someone Somewhere,” are both good but the latter needs a pinch more soul. There’s nothing deeply compelling as John Campbell’s “Tiny Coffin,” BB’s “The Thrill Is Gone,” or even the intensity of John Martyn’s “Hurt In Your Heart.” A good blues, its saving grace - Neal’s John Lee Hooker-type reading. I could start dreamin' but it never ends As long as you're gone we may as well pretend I've been dreamin' Straight from the heart You say it's easy but who's to say That we'd be able to keep it this way But it's easier Coming straight from the heart Give it to me straight from the heart Tell me we can make another start You know I'll never go As long as I know It's comin' straight from the. Years from the edgier Muddy Waters, Robert Johnson, Junior Parker, or Buddy Guy. “It Don’t Cost Nothing,” is a cool groove. Kenny covers a lot & nothing lacks sincerity.ĭespite being true to his roots he flirts with that commercial appeal. & the Zydeco Twister is a slow sizzler of dynamic performance. But “Louise Ana,” with Rockin’ Dopsie Jr. A little less jaunty & resplendent of the more Cajun & Creole zydeco of Buckwheat Zydeco & Clifton Chenier. The vital elements are there, but the “entertainment” sheen dilutes the taste. He sings about interesting subjects but instead of adding a wax gloss to his performance, some are slick & polished. Some of Neal’s blues while played well brazenly approach - too close, mainstream commercial sweetness. Words reflect hard times, heartbreak & the motherlode of the downtrodden. It has an old-school deep tone & resonance required of the blues. Johnny Winter, Shuggie Otis, Mike Bloomfield, Roy Buchanan, Buddy Guy, John Campbell, Jeff Healey – all exceptionally well. Awards & accolades aside many blues musicians have exhumed the ghost of the blues for both exploitation & histrionics. His guitar & raw vocals provide the rest. The Grammy-nominated Neal purposely turns back the clock on the 11-cut, 47-minute Straight From The Heart (Drops May 20–Ruf Records) to recapture a purer blues with Zydeco spice & soul authenticity. John hoodoo & Allan Toussaint charts with the horn gumbo of The Meters. King approach in tone & effectively mixes Dr. Neal (vocals/lead & rhythm guitar/harmonica/horn arrangements) has a somewhat B.B.

Blues artist Kenny Neal’s showcase is adept, spicy & finely tuned.

Melodies have a New Orleans slant or Bayou flavor. Louisiana’s Baton Rouge always effectively indulges its blues with a swampy, humid distillation.

Straight from the heart bryan adams