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Hallelujah...Aaron Neville keeps gospel fires burning...
AARON NEVILLE Devotion Silverline DVD-A (2003)
You may have seen the review of the companion 'Believe' DVD-A by my
erstwhile colleague. If you haven't, check it out for background to the
releases.
First of all, let me reassure you - this may be a DVD-A by one of the
Neville Brothers, but thankfully neither Gary nor Phil made it to the subs
bench. Brother Ivan does however make a guest appearance on Singing You a
Prayer.
So what's Devotion like? Well, it earned a Grammy nomination for Best
Traditional Soul Gospel Album so it's no pup. And, like on Believe - Aaron
clearly is by a man inspired by his God. There are spiritual covers of
standards - Morning Has Broken, Bridge Over Troubled Water, and Let It Be -
all sufficiently distanced from the originals to make them an interesting
listen - mixed with gospel standards.
OK, so it doesn't 'rock' (think some of the slower Commodores moments
peppered with a healthy does of religious fervour) but it is uplifting. The
aforementioned Singing A Prayer and By Heart, By Soul being particularly
worthy of mention. On the latter, Aaron trades vocal 'licks' with guest
vocalist Avalon who adds a more 'traditional' gospel flavour to proceedings.
And the closing track is a quite superb soul rendition of I Shall Be
Released.
Bonus material includes two tracks not on the CD, interviews with Aaron and
friends, and live footage from Angola Penitentiary. And of course the 5.1
Dolby Surround Sound (mixed by Gary Lux - Sting, Alice Cooper etc.) is quite
immaculate. Hallelujah.
Website
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Review by Pete Whalley
Related>>Believe
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