Late Night Breakfast

Break out the napkins, or you'll get real messy. Here comes Johnny Neel with Late Night Breakfast! And, bring those napkins on down to the Grand Emporium on April 28th to hear this phenomenon live, presented by Dark Horse Productions and with special MC guest Tom 'Trashmouth' Baker! As I was writing this review on New Year's Day, I wondered if it was too early to start my 'Top 10 of 2001' CD list. Regardless of Father Time, what is true is true, and what is hip is hip. Not only is Johnny Neel and any recording he puts out first rate, he is one of the most talented musicians to walk the planet. He joins the ranks of multi-talented blind pianists/composers such as Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder - and he's every bit as creative and soulful. Although not a household name, Johnny Neel is a Grammy award nominee recognized in the music world for his work with the Allman Brothers, Lonnie Mack and Gov't Mule, among others. In addition to his soulful vocals, harp, piano and B-3 proficiency, Johnny is an accomplished songwriter whose tunes have been recorded by the likes of the Allman Brothers, Joe Louis Walker, John Mayall, Irma Thomas, Ann Peebles, Marie Osmond, the Oak Ridge Boys and Travis Tritt. Johnny Neel's proficiency is readily apparent on Late Night Breakfast. This CD has no missing ingredients from appetizer to dessert. 'Full Tank of Love' comes boiling out at you like a runaway freight train. Added to Johnny Neel's freakishly good vocals, the female back-up singers add the spice and garnishment that make this opening entree sizzle. 'Caught Me on My Blind Side' is another savory little number reminiscent of the songwriting in Storyville. 'Murdered By Love' has got to be one of the best slow Blues songs to have been recorded in many a year. Former KC musicians Larry van Loon and Mike O'Neill were almost in tears after hearing the playback in the studio in Nashville. They both had to go right out and order large helpings of biscuits and gravy just to make them calm down. And, 'Late Night Breakfast' frequenters they are. This title cut adds the icing on the cake to an already scrumptious recipe of 12 tasty renditions. Johnny Neel is the kind of talent who could literally sing the phone book and make it work. This guy can't go wrong. Those not familiar with Johnny Neel may remember his 'White Christmas'-meets-Dixie-Chicken tune on KC's 1999 Heatin' Up the Holidays Hope House CD. Not only is Late Night Breakfast a marvelous sonic experience, but with Tom Gieseke's masterful cover artwork and graphics throughout, it is a feast of the eyes. Too bad Johnny Neel can't see it, but the descriptions fed to him make it apparent this stands out from other Blues projects, early or late night. Reviewed by Connie 'Crash' Humiston.