Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Neal Miner: The Real Neal

Neal Miner: The Real Neal

By Jim Santella
January 1, 2002
View read count

A bassist’s album is sure to provide that certain sound. Neal Miner takes the melody in hand and walks it gently around the studio. His quartet prefers straight-ahead jazz with an emphasis on melody. Standards provide instant recognition, while Miner’s five swinging originals add fresh sounds. A lyrical bassist, Miner blends a rich tone and seamless phrasing into his interpretations. Mainstream jazz of this nature usually means waiting for the bass solo and hoping that the audience will stay quiet. With his debut session as a leader, Miner makes sure that his audience gets “the real deal.” Guitar, saxophone and drums share the solo spotlight liberally. Chris Bergson and Doug White add tender lyricism. Their ensemble sound maintains a suitable balance. Trading fours often, drummer Joe Stasser rounds out a strong quartet and a recommended recording. When a bassist leads with melody or improvises over the tune’s chord changes, it’s a special time. Neal Miner’s ensemble ensures that everyone gets to enjoy the bass solo.

Track Listing

Blues for Red and Brown; Smoke Gets In Your Eyes; Night Owls; Put On a Happy Face; The Message; This Is Always; Neality; Pick Yourself Up; Bassism; Autumn Nocturne; Spiffy.

Personnel

Neal Miner

bass, acoustic

Neal Miner- bass; Chris Bergson- guitar; Joe Stasser- drums; Doug White- tenor saxophone.

Album information

Title: The Real Neal | Year Released: 2002 | Record Label: Juniper Records

PREVIOUS / NEXT

Ben Monder: Le Monde du Monder
< Previous

Postcards from Christmas 2001
Next >

Support All About Jazz

All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who make it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

Go Ad Free!

To maintain our platform while developing new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity, we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for as little as $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination vastly improves your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.