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04/23/2025
Bluesman Kenny Neal Teams Up With Jazz/Gospel Sensation
Quiana Lynell and Special Guest Lee Oskar to Showcase His Spiritual Side On “Let Life Flow,” Coming May 2nd from Verdict Music
The Soon-to-be Released Masterfully Crafted Remake of Neal’s 2008 Release With Several Enhancements and New Additions / Pre-Save Links: https://orcd.co/letlifeflow
BATON ROUGE, LA – Following the success of his debut release on Verdict Music earlier this year with “Devil’s In The Delta,” American Bluesman Kenny Neal has teamed up with jazz/gospel sensation Quiana Lynell and acclaimed harmonica player Lee Oskar to showcase his more spiritual side on “Let Life Flow.” The soon-to-be released track is a masterfully crafted remake of Neal’s 2008 release by the same name, but with several enhancements and new additions. The song’s official release date is May 2nd and will be available to stream on all major platforms then.
Enter Quiana Lynell, a powerhouse soul singer with an otherworldly voice who sings with a warmth and depth seldom heard these days. And flow she does…delivering the simple but life-affirming message with a style and authenticity that makes you want to embrace life and seize the moment – even the “unpredictable” ones that serve to remind us that we are all indeed mortal!
Lynell calls Louisiana home and regularly performs at landmark venues in America and abroad. As a seasoned vocalist, arranger, songwriter and vocal coach, she has worked alongside many notable musicians both in and out of the studio, at live performances worldwide.
In 2017, she won the very prestigious Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition Award, which led to a recording contract with Concord Jazz. Lynell has performed at the Montreux Jazz Festival, Carnegie Hall and The Kennedy Center. Her major label debut in 2019, A Little Love, was very well received by both fans & music critics alike. In 2023, Lynell released her much-anticipated Pillow Talk, a nine-song album on Q Sound.
The chanteuse has also been candid about her love of collaborating with other musical artists, and this is never more evident than on this bluesy duet where Lynell is very much at home in her soul zone trading verses with Neal. The two go back many years both professionally and as friends, and fortuitously, Lynell was available to record the track when Neal reached out to her.
The “takes-you-back” track feels fresh and new but in a most familiar way, reminiscent of ‘80s vibes duets like the classic “Baby, Come to Me” by Patti Austin & James Ingram. Neal is the grounding force, while Lynell adds a layer of harmonic dimensionality that warms the spirit and is easy on the ears.
The icing on the cake is the addition of Lee Oskar, a highly acclaimed harmonica player, composer and songwriter which some of you may remember from his earlier years as one of the founding members of the band WAR, a ‘70s-era progressive soul group whose many crossover hits dominated the music charts for several successive years and garnered global appeal.
Oskar’s musical contributions to some of the band’s most iconic songs including “Cisco Kid,” “Low Rider,” “Spill the Wine,” “Slippin’ Into Darkness,” “Why Can’t We Be Friends” and “The World is a Ghetto” are instantly recognizable and many of the songs, which he co-wrote, have been featured in films, TV, movies and commercials.
Their massively popular album, The World is a Ghetto, received international critical acclaim and became Billboard’s best-selling album of 1973. Due to the band’s popularity and their expansive catalogue of chart-topping hits, many of the band’s more popular songs have since been covered, sampled or interpolated by newer musical artists who were inspired to create their own versions or derivative works.
Following changes to WAR’s original line-up, Oskar later formed The Low Rider Band which initially included four original band members. He has since also founded Lee Oskar and Friends, a jam band featuring outstanding musicians from the Pacific Northwest, performing his own, self-produced original material in addition to many of his well-loved, popular classic hits. Oskar has also self-released two critically acclaimed full-length albums titled, Never Forget and She Said Mahalo.
A consummate entrepreneur, Oskar founded Lee Oskar Harmonicas in 1983, his own harmonica company, and pioneered an interchangeable system of reed plates, combs and cover plates that has become the industry’s gold standard.
This eclectic lineup, combining very distinct musical styles, creates a soundscape so unique and yet so timeless; the track is sure to become a staple for many years to come. Old school style with new school cool! Re-defining easy listening and reminding modern listeners what good music used to sound like, back in the day.
Neal finds redemption on “Let Life Flow” after previously sharing that he was on the mend after surviving a challenging medical set back. The personal track is both liberating and uplifting, assuring us that although “one minute you’re up, the next minute you’re down,” life’s darkest moments can be navigated with grace and that life continues to flow on the other side despair.
Neal is a second-generation Southern Louisiana bluesman–a household name in his home state of Louisiana where the Swamp Blues are alive and well and still reign supreme within the region’s deep and proud blues tradition.
His Dad, Raful Neal, was Baton Rouge royalty whose colleagues and close friends included Buddy Guy and Slim Harpo. In fact, Neal cut his teeth playing bass in Buddy Guy’s band after being asked to join.
Neal’s 2016 release, Bloodline, was nominated for a 2017 Grammy for Best Contemporary Blues Album and also won Two Blues Music Awards that same year, one for Best Contemporary Blues Album and the other for Best Contemporary Male Blues Artist.
When not performing at local music venues and festivals in his home state of Louisiana or on the road with his band during the busy tour season, Neal can be found at Brookstown Recording Studio, his very own hometown creative space which he makes available to new and aspiring artists.
Kenny Neal and Quiana Lynell will be performing together at The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival on April 25th.
Kenny Neal Hi-Res Photo: http://www.markpuccimedia.com/Kenny-Neal-Live-HI-Res-Credit-Verdict-Music-scaled.jpg
For More Information, Contact:
kennynealmusic.com
quianalynell.com
leeoskar.com
linktr.ee/verdictmusic
markpuccimedia.com
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