Customer Reviews

Art Neville: His Specialty Recordings 1956-1958

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Born in New Orleans on December 17, 1937 this talented pianist has covered all the bases in his long career, including R&R, soul, modern funk and, of course, New Orleans music-mambo. Like many of his contemporaries, his greatest influence was obviously Professor Longhair, and this is evident in his earliest work with The Hawketts.

While with the Chess label they cut THE quintessential Big Easy mardi gras anthem "Mardi Gras Mambo." Not in this collection [this is a compilation of his work as a solo artist with Specialty] it can be found in either the excellent CD New Orleans Party Classics or equally-desirable Chess New Orleans. Each year Chess releases it to coincide with the big party.

This CD, however, more than adequately exhibits Art's talents as both a singer and pianist, whether on the stroll-type Ooh Whee Baby, the slow rocking Standing On the Highway, and up-tempo rockers like Cha Dooky Doo and That Old Time Rock And Roll, the latter evoking memories of Larry Williams.

But if you really want to hear some mind-numbing R&R piano you also have to get the CD Creole Kings Of New Orleans and give a listen to Art's solo on Jerry Byrne's cult classic Lights Out.

In fact, why not get all of four CDs, guaranteed to jump-start any party.