For
Aaron Neville
, the impact of Hurricane Katrina could only be expressed through music, specifically on songs that are uplifting, meaningful, and close to the heart.
Bring It on Home...The Soul Classics
is about recovery: a positive response not only to the natural disaster of the hurricane, but undoubtedly to the blase attitude about it from the federal government. Tragedy can bring out the best in people, and
Neville
's disc not only aims to deal with his personal pain, but specifically reaches out to those who survived the storm the best way he knows how. These songs are familiar enough to deliver the listener a sense of warmth which hopefully opens the door to healing, grace, and power. Out of the 13 tracks, four are duets: with
Mavis Staples
on
"Respect Yourself,"
Chaka Khan
"Let's Stay Together,"
brother
Art Neville
with
David Sanborn
for
"People Get Ready,"
and
Chris Botti
"Rainy Night in Georgia."
Katrina's aftermath found other musicians reaching out to their audience as well, musicians who have created a few painfully triumphant releases like
Dr. John & the Lower 911
's
Sippiana Hericane
, the
Dirty Dozen Brass Band
's reworking of
Marvin Gaye
's 1971 album
What's Goin' On
, and the various artists who contributed to
Our New Orleans: A Benefit Album for the Gulf Coast
. It's safe to say
Bring it on Home...The Soul Classics
should be added to that list. ~ Al Campbell