New Orleans-born saxophonist Charles Neville, who cut his teeth playing with B.B. King before starting his seminal The Neville Brothers ensemble, has died at the age of 79.
He succumbed to pancreatic cancer on the eve of the annual New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.
His style was informed predominantly by New Orleans Rhythm and Blues, but also integrated elements of jazz, a form of improvisational back-and-forth he learned during a stint in prison and, as the band evolved, aspects of Funk.
In 1989, his group won a Grammy for the mysterious, serpentine Healing Chant.
He is survived by "loving" brothers, a wife, and several children.
To quote his brother, Aaron: "I know you have a spot in the heavenly band next to James Booker, James Black, Herbert Hardesty, Fats Domino, Johnny Adams all the jazz bebop players who you turned me on to. Dizzy, Charlie Parker, Miles and the list goes on... they are all waiting on you."
|
