A slashing guitar and a loping harmonica
Kenny Neal stands tall among the younger generation of blues players. His
individual brand of blues, featuring a combination of Louisiana swamp blues,
funky rhythms and soul-deep vocals, powered by his slashing guitar playing
and loping harmonica, puts him at the forefront of contemporary blues players.
Born October 14, 1957 into a deeply rooted multi-generational blues family
from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, he's been playing the blues since he was a
small child. He first learned the blues from his father, harpist Raful Neal,
and family friends like Buddy Guy, Lazy Lester and Slim Harpo. In 1991,
he starred in a Broadway musical, "Mule Bone," with music by Taj
Mahal, and won a Theatre World Award for his performance. In 1993, he toured
Africa for the U.S. government, performing in seven countries. He's played
with major blues stars from B. B. King to Buddy Guy, and has emerged as
one of the few names on the short list of future blues greats. His music
is deeply rooted in the Louisiana swamp blues tradition, but burns with
a contemporary fire. "One of a mere handful of truly inventive young
contemporary guitarists," announced the Chicago Tribune, "Neal
has something fresh to say and the chops with which to say it." |
