This past September came the debut by a promising new artist by the name of Neal Francis. But at the age of 30, Francis isn’t really new but reborn. The second act comes after a stint leading the upstart instrumental funk outfit out of Chicago, the Heard. That put the keyboardist and composer on an upward trajectory until substance abuse derailed that promising career. But Neal Francis O’Hara got back on his feet and in re-launching himself this time as a solo artist, Francis pushed ahead by going back to a childhood where his household filled up with the warm, analog sounds of 70s funk, soul and rootsy rock.
Accordingly — and I realize I’m hardly the first to notice this, but — Neal Francis instantly draws comparisons to the Meters, Dr. John, Allen Toussaint and Leon Russell, all around in their 1973-ish peak. Instead of Rebennack’s drawl Francis has been gifted a baritone croak that he puts to good use. Another resource he put into good use is guitarist Sergio Rios (Alicia Keys, Orgone), an impeccable choice for producer of a record that has that classic, bell-bottomed vinyl vibe. This Wrecking Crew is rounded out by Mike Starr on bass and PJ Howard on drums.
But all of this would be for naught if Neal Francis didn’t come up with a batch of good tunes, and these all have the veneer of lost funk classics, the kind of rare grooves that regularly get mined for sampling on hip-hop songs. “This Time” has chord changes of a classic Meters song like “Cissy Strut” and even Rios’ rhythm guitar follows closely along the trail blazed by Leo Nocentelli. But as Francis sings autobiographically of his promise “Let me get it this time / I won’t let you down,” he’s delivering on a big organ sound and boogie-woogie piano. “These Are the Days” is an uplifting gospel ditty replete with a chorus of female background singers and a bank of RnB horns.
Francis keyboarding skills comes to the fore with a funky Wurlitzer for “She’s a Winner,” propelled along by Starr’s bouncy bass line, and some well-placed horn punches. “Changes, Pts. 1 & 2” hearkens back to the time when longer songs – such as soul-rock numbers from the Isley Brothers’ – were two-parted, to make them easier to edit down to radio length. And with another poppin’ bass line from Starr it’s certainly catchy enough to get the radio play in a more discerning time, but it is Neal Francis’ throw-down piano that makes “Part 2” worth going the distance with the whole song. And the piano fun continues through the jaunty “Lauren” and the soul ballad “Can’t Live Without Your Love.”
“Put It In His Hands” ends Changes with another gospel number except it’s gospel in the subject matter instead, a nod to Francis’ personal salvation from addiction. The music behind it is the healing sound of guitar-ridden psychedelic-kissed rock.
Neal Francis is making the most of his second chance to make a first impression, creating quality soul music earnestly by hand. Changes is now offered by Karma Chief Records. It’s desitively bonnaroo.
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