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A 'spiritual connection'
[Publicity photo]
The Neville Brothers take the stage Saturday at Jannus Landing in St. Petersburg. “Performing for others — that’s what it’s all about,” Charles Neville says. |
By GINA VIVINETTO, Times Pop Music Critic
© St. Petersburg Times
published March 14, 2002
Charles Neville talks about his beloved hometown of New Orleans and the magic of performing with his brothers.
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New Orleans is a city known for its rich history of music. The Neville Brothers, its first family of funk, have for decades acted as musical ambassadors for their hometown. With hits from brother Aaron's 1966 solo soul classic Tell It Like It Is and his duets with Linda Ronstadt and Trisha Yearwood to the Neville Brothers' spins on Duke Ellington classics and the group's own gems Sister Rosa and Africa, the Nevilles have dipped into nearly all of American roots music.
From his home in Crescent City, La., Charles Neville, 63, the act's horn player, describes his life in New Orleans and how he'd spend a day with someone who had never before visited the city.
"First," Neville says, "I'd take them to see some street musicians. People don't know how big a role they play here. You see that on TV, but people don't realize what a big part of our life it is."
"Then," Neville adds. "The food. Anywhere you go, the food is great. But, if you want the real authentic stuff, I'd take them to someone's house."
Whose house?
"An old aunt's house," Neville says. "We'd have gumbo, catfish court-bouillon. Oh, yes."
Neville says the best time to visit New Orleans is during its annual Jazz & Heritage Festival in the spring. He first went to the festivities in 1977 and has enjoyed it every year since. The Neville Brothers have performed at the festival countless times. The combination of excellent jazz, soul, blues and R&B, combined with city's joyful energy is something he and his three brothers try to bring with them on the road.
"People ask us all the time if it's difficult working together, as a family," he says. "I think it would be tough if we were manufacturing or selling something, some product.
"But, since what we do requires some kind of spiritual connection, it works in our favor. Our connection is so strong. It helps keep negative energy away."
Spirituality, he says, plays an important role in the Neville Brothers. So does respect. Neville says he's awed by the singing talent surrounding him.
"I don't know if any of them has the best voice," Neville says. "Aaron's voice is unique. But really Cyril is just as good. Art is also a great singer."
"I'm the only one who can't sing." Charles Neville says, laughing. Charles, who cites his musical heroes Charlie Parker, Sonny Rollins and John Coltrane, pitches in with the group's sweet four-part harmonies and backing vocals when he's not juggling alto, tenor and soprano sax duties with flute playing.
After decades in the business, Neville says it's still the live performances that are the most thrilling part of being a musician. Making that connection with the audience, he says, is what it's all about. Lately, though, with unstable world events and the threat of terrorism, getting to the stages requires more patience.
"It's a lot more difficult these days," Neville says. "There are more problems at airport security. A lot more hassles."
But the music, once it begins, makes it all worthwhile.
"We're definitely blessed," Neville says. "Music is a great gift. It permits us to share ourselves. Performing for others -- that's what it's all about. That's how it was for Bird (Charlie Parker), too. You can play alone, isolated, in a room, but then you get out there and share it -- it has so much more meaning. That validates it. It validates you."
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