Leo Nocentelli: Difference between revisions
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==Career== |
==Career== |
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Nocentelli grew up in the [[Irish Channel, New Orleans|Irish Channel]] and [[Seventh Ward, New Orleans|Seventh Ward]] neighborhoods of New Orleans. He was encouraged by his father to pursue music. He played [[ukulele]] at an early age and started on guitar at age twelve.<ref name="ln-cradle-1992" /><ref name="ln-louisiana music" /> He gravitated to jazz and was influenced by jazz guitarists [[Charlie Christian]], [[Barney Kessel]], [[Johnny Smith]] and [[Kenny Burrell]].<ref name="ln-allmusic-bio" /> His first professional gig was at age thirteen.<ref name="ln-cradle-1992" /> By age fourteen he was backing notable musicians such as [[Otis Redding]] and [[Clyde McPhatter]].<ref name="ln-louisiana music" /> He played jazz, [[Dixieland]], [[rhythm and blues]], and [[Rock and roll|rock]].<ref name="ln-jambands-2011" />{{rp|page=2}} |
Nocentelli grew up in the [[Irish Channel, New Orleans|Irish Channel]] and [[Seventh Ward, New Orleans|Seventh Ward]] neighborhoods of New Orleans. He was encouraged by his father to pursue music. He played [[ukulele]] at an early age and started on guitar at age twelve.<ref name="ln-cradle-1992" /><ref name="ln-louisiana music" /> He gravitated to jazz and was influenced by jazz guitarists [[Charlie Christian]], [[Barney Kessel]], [[Johnny Smith]] and [[Kenny Burrell]].<ref name="ln-allmusic-bio" /> His first professional gig was at age thirteen.<ref name="ln-cradle-1992" /> By age fourteen he was backing notable musicians such as [[Otis Redding]] and [[Clyde McPhatter]].<ref name="ln-louisiana music" /> He played jazz, [[Dixieland]], [[rhythm and blues]], and [[Rock and roll|rock]].<ref name="ln-jambands-2011" />{{rp|page=2}} He joined the [[The Hawketts|Hawketts]] and developed a reputation as a guitarist. At age seventeen he did session work for Motown acts including the [[The Supremes|Supremes]], [[The Temptations|Temptations]], and [[The Spinners (American R&B group)|Spinners]].<ref name="ln-cradle-1992" /><ref name="ln-musical gumbo" /> |
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In 1964 he was drafted and served in the army for two years. During [[Leave (U.S. military)|leaves]] he did session work in New Orleans. After the service he joined Art Neville and the Neville Sounds, at the time a recently founded seven-piece band. By 1968 the band consisted of four members: Necentelli, [[Art Neville]], [[George Porter Jr.|George Porter]], and [[Ziggy Modeliste]].<ref name="ln-cradle-1992" /> The band had a fluid style and each instrument was free to go anywhere musically.<ref name="ln-louisiana music" /> The band performed dance-style rhythm and blues at the Ivanhue nightclub six nights a week. On Sundays, Necentelli, Porter, and Modeliste performed jazz gigs.<ref name="ln-cradle-1992" /><ref name="ln-musical gumbo" /> Nocentelli said his band mates were his biggest influence and called his experience up to this point in time the learning phase of his career.<ref name="ln-jambands-2004" /><ref name="ln-blues blog |
In 1964 he was drafted and served in the army for two years. During [[Leave (U.S. military)|leaves]] he did session work in New Orleans. After the service he joined Art Neville and the Neville Sounds, at the time a recently founded seven-piece band. By 1968 the band consisted of four members: Necentelli, [[Art Neville]], [[George Porter Jr.|George Porter]], and [[Ziggy Modeliste]].<ref name="ln-cradle-1992" /> The band had a fluid style and each instrument was free to go anywhere musically.<ref name="ln-louisiana music" /> The band performed dance-style rhythm and blues at the Ivanhue nightclub six nights a week. On Sundays, Necentelli, Porter, and Modeliste performed jazz gigs.<ref name="ln-cradle-1992" /><ref name="ln-musical gumbo" /> Nocentelli said his band mates were his biggest influence and called his experience up to this point in time the learning phase of his career.<ref name="ln-jambands-2004" /><ref name="ln-blues blog" /> |
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The band released two singles as [[The Meters]], "Sophisticated Cissy" and "[[Cissy Strut]]", both originally written by Nocentelli.<ref name="ln-hotg-singles-2011" /><ref name="ln-vintage2002" /> The commercial success of "Cissy Strut" became an impetus for the band's subsequent recording career as The Meters.<ref name="ln-vintage2002" /> From 1969 to 1977 the band released eight studio albums, with Nocentelli as one of the primary songwriters.<ref name="ln-zig2008" /> He wrote the original versions of funk songs such as "People Say" and "Hey Pocky A-Way".<ref name="ln-jambands-2004" /><ref name="ln-gibson-2010" /> Early on, improvisation was a major part of song development.<ref name="ln-jambands-2012" />{{rp|page=2}} Though the band gained notoriety in the music community, their lack of commercial success along with managerial and artistic factors gave way to their disbandment in late 1970s.<ref name="ln-am-meters-bio" /><ref name="ln-musical gumbo" /> |
The band released two singles as [[The Meters]], "Sophisticated Cissy" and "[[Cissy Strut]]", both originally written by Nocentelli.<ref name="ln-hotg-singles-2011" /><ref name="ln-vintage2002" /> The commercial success of "Cissy Strut" became an impetus for the band's subsequent recording career as The Meters.<ref name="ln-vintage2002" /> From 1969 to 1977 the band released eight studio albums, with Nocentelli as one of the primary songwriters.<ref name="ln-zig2008" /> He wrote the original versions of funk songs such as "People Say" and "Hey Pocky A-Way".<ref name="ln-jambands-2004" /><ref name="ln-gibson-2010" /> Early on, improvisation was a major part of song development.<ref name="ln-jambands-2012" />{{rp|page=2}} Though the band gained notoriety in the music community, their lack of commercial success along with managerial and artistic factors gave way to their disbandment in late 1970s.<ref name="ln-am-meters-bio" /><ref name="ln-musical gumbo" /> |
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Early on, Nocentelli used a [[Gibson ES-175]] hollow body guitar. He switched to a semi-hollow [[Fender Starcaster]] in 1974. Around 2001 he switched to the semi-hollow [[Gibson ES-335]].<ref name="ln-vintage2002" /><ref name="ln-sundazed-2002" /> Nocentelli has performed in several reunions with the original Meters lineup.<ref name="ln-nola-aug2011" /><ref name="ln-gratefulweb-2015" /> He moved to New Orleans in 2015 and continues to perform.<ref name="ln-nola-dec2015" /> |
Early on, Nocentelli used a [[Gibson ES-175]] hollow body guitar. He switched to a semi-hollow [[Fender Starcaster]] in 1974. Around 2001 he switched to the semi-hollow [[Gibson ES-335]].<ref name="ln-vintage2002" /><ref name="ln-sundazed-2002" /> Nocentelli has performed in several reunions with the original Meters lineup.<ref name="ln-nola-aug2011" /><ref name="ln-gratefulweb-2015" /> He moved to New Orleans in 2015 and continues to perform.<ref name="ln-nola-dec2015" /> |
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==Quotations== |
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*In a 2010 interview Nocentelli said: "They can't teach you funk (...) It's the same aspect with rhythm guitar. It's about knowing what to play. When you hear something, you have to know what to play to complement what you're hearing".<ref name="ln-gibson-2010" /> |
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*In a 2011 interview Nocentelli said: "When I was comin' up (...) most New Orleans musicians, had to learn how to play all genres of music. (...) So, I think, having the knowledge to do different types of music, informed me by being able to incorporate all those different genres".<ref name="ln-jambands-2011" /> |
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==Discography== |
==Discography== |
Revision as of 03:42, 20 October 2017
Leo Nocentelli | |
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Nocentelli performing in 2006 | |
Background information | |
Born | [1] New Orleans, Louisiana | June 15, 1946
Genres | Funk, R&B, soul, rock, jazz |
Occupation(s) | Musician, songwriter |
Instrument | Guitar |
Years active | Late 1950s–present |
Leo Nocentelli (born June 15, 1946) is an American musician and songwriter best known as a founding member and the lead guitarist of the funk band The Meters.
Career
Nocentelli grew up in the Irish Channel and Seventh Ward neighborhoods of New Orleans. He was encouraged by his father to pursue music. He played ukulele at an early age and started on guitar at age twelve.[1][2] He gravitated to jazz and was influenced by jazz guitarists Charlie Christian, Barney Kessel, Johnny Smith and Kenny Burrell.[3] His first professional gig was at age thirteen.[1] By age fourteen he was backing notable musicians such as Otis Redding and Clyde McPhatter.[2] He played jazz, Dixieland, rhythm and blues, and rock.[4]: 2 He joined the Hawketts and developed a reputation as a guitarist. At age seventeen he did session work for Motown acts including the Supremes, Temptations, and Spinners.[1][5]
In 1964 he was drafted and served in the army for two years. During leaves he did session work in New Orleans. After the service he joined Art Neville and the Neville Sounds, at the time a recently founded seven-piece band. By 1968 the band consisted of four members: Necentelli, Art Neville, George Porter, and Ziggy Modeliste.[1] The band had a fluid style and each instrument was free to go anywhere musically.[2] The band performed dance-style rhythm and blues at the Ivanhue nightclub six nights a week. On Sundays, Necentelli, Porter, and Modeliste performed jazz gigs.[1][5] Nocentelli said his band mates were his biggest influence and called his experience up to this point in time the learning phase of his career.[6][7]
The band released two singles as The Meters, "Sophisticated Cissy" and "Cissy Strut", both originally written by Nocentelli.[8][9] The commercial success of "Cissy Strut" became an impetus for the band's subsequent recording career as The Meters.[9] From 1969 to 1977 the band released eight studio albums, with Nocentelli as one of the primary songwriters.[10] He wrote the original versions of funk songs such as "People Say" and "Hey Pocky A-Way".[6][11] Early on, improvisation was a major part of song development.[12]: 2 Though the band gained notoriety in the music community, their lack of commercial success along with managerial and artistic factors gave way to their disbandment in late 1970s.[13][5]
Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Nocentelli wrote, co-wrote and did session work – mostly in Cosimo, Sansu, and Sea-Saint studios.[1][3][6][14] As songwriter and producer, he learned from and was influenced by Allen Toussaint.[15][16] He backed a variety of artists such as Dr. John, Robert Palmer, Albert King, Etta James, Joe Cocker, Earl King, Chris Kenner, and Betty Harris.[14][3][6]
In the early 1980s Nocentelli toured with Jimmy Buffett. He moved to Los Angeles in 1982.[16] He continued to do session work and performed regularly with former band mate George Porter as GEO/LEO.[9][11] He also remained close with Modeliste, who had moved to the San Francisco Bay Area. They performed in various quartet formations and released a live album titled Nocentelli: Live in San Francisco.[17][18] At one of their shows in 1989, Nocentelli and Porter invited Modeliste and Neville on stage. The impromptu performance was the first reunion of the original Meters.[9] The same year Nocentelli, Neville, and Porter formed The Funky Meters with Russell Batiste on drums. Nocentelli performed with the reincarnated lineup until 1993.[19]
He briefly moved back to New Orleans in the early 1990s and returned to Los Angeles in 1992.[17] He continued to perform with two Meters-inspired lineups: The Meter Men and The Meters Experience. The Meter Men are Nocentelli, Porter, and Modeliste with Page McConnell on keyboards; variations included keyboardists Rich Vogel, John Gros, and drummer Russell Batiste.[12][20] The Meters Experience is Nocentelli in various quartets with Bernie Worrell, Bill Dickens, Oteil Burbridge, Al Di Meola, Jason Crosby, George Laks, Jamal Batiste, Ricky Cortez, Felix Pollard, and others.[4][11][21]
Early on, Nocentelli used a Gibson ES-175 hollow body guitar. He switched to a semi-hollow Fender Starcaster in 1974. Around 2001 he switched to the semi-hollow Gibson ES-335.[9][14] Nocentelli has performed in several reunions with the original Meters lineup.[22][21] He moved to New Orleans in 2015 and continues to perform.[16]
Quotations
- In a 2010 interview Nocentelli said: "They can't teach you funk (...) It's the same aspect with rhythm guitar. It's about knowing what to play. When you hear something, you have to know what to play to complement what you're hearing".[11]
- In a 2011 interview Nocentelli said: "When I was comin' up (...) most New Orleans musicians, had to learn how to play all genres of music. (...) So, I think, having the knowledge to do different types of music, informed me by being able to incorporate all those different genres".[4]
Discography
As leader
- Nocentelli: Live in San Francisco (DJM, 1997)
- Rhythm & Rhymes Part 1 (TLB, 2009)[23]
- The Secrets of Funk: Using it and Fusing it ! (2003) – instructional DVD[24]
With others
Credits partly adapted from AllMusic.[25]
- Nightbirds (Epic, 1974) with Labelle
- Sneakin' Sally Through the Alley (Island, 1974) with Robert Palmer
- Patti LaBelle (Epic, 1977) with Patti LaBelle
- Changes (MCA, 1980) with Etta James
- On the Line (RCA, 1983) with Michael Wycoff
- Let My People Go (Quest, 1985) with The Winans
- Winner in You (MCA, 1986) with Patti LaBelle
- Tenderness (American Clave, 1990) with Kip Hanrahan
- Storyville (Geffen, 1991) with Robbie Robertson
- Us (Geffen, 1992) with Peter Gabriel
- Southern Exposure (Jive, 1993) with Maceo Parker
- Urban Blues Re: Newell (Sony Plain, 1995) with King Biscuit Boy
- Connected (NYNO, 1996) with Allen Toussaint
- Rock and Roll Doctor: Lowell George Tribute (CMC, 1997) with various artists
- Matriarch of the Blues (Private Music, 2000) with Etta James
- Big Wide Grin (Sony, 2001) with Keb' Mo'
- Take Me Back Home (Sony BMG, 2006) with New Orleans Social Club[26]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g Jason Berry; Jonathan Foose; Tad Jones (1992). Up from the Cradle of Jazz. Da Capo Press. pp. 195–200. ISBN 9780306804939. Retrieved November 17, 2015.
- ^ a b c Rick Koster (2002). Louisiana Music: A Journey from R&B to Zydeco, Jazz to Country, Blues to Gospel... Da Capo Press. pp. 97–105. ISBN 9780306804939. Retrieved November 12, 2015.
- ^ a b c "Allmusic: Leo Nocentelli – biography". Allmusic.com. Archived from the original on May 5, 2016. Retrieved November 12, 2015.
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suggested) (help) - ^ a b c Randy Ray (January 25, 2011). "Leo Nocentelli and That Original Spark". jambands.com. Archived from the original on May 4, 2011. Retrieved October 8, 2017.
{{cite web}}
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suggested) (help) Archive page 2 - ^ a b c Grace Lichtenstein; Laura Dankner (1993). Musical Gumbo: The Music of New Orleans. W.W. Norton. pp. 153–160. ISBN 9780393034684. Retrieved October 8, 2017.
- ^ a b c d Andy Tennille (May 29, 2004). "Used with Leo Nocentelli". jambands.com. Archived from the original on August 14, 2016. Retrieved October 8, 2017.
{{cite web}}
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suggested) (help) - ^ Michalis Limnios (March 4, 2013). "Marvelous Leo Nocentelli of Meters talks about New Orleans culture, his experiences, and Muhammed Ali". blues.gr. Archived from the original on September 20, 2015. Retrieved October 8, 2017.
{{cite web}}
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ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ Dan Phillips (June 18, 2011). "The Sissy variations or The Queen of Funky Dances". Home of the Groove. Archived from the original on October 11, 2016. Retrieved October 8, 2017.
{{cite web}}
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suggested) (help) - ^ a b c d e John Heidt (September 2002). "Leo Nocentelli – A Meter Keeps Running". Vintage Guitar (magazine). Archived from the original on September 6, 2015. Retrieved November 12, 2015.
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suggested) (help) - ^ "New Orleans Drum Summit: David Kunian with Joseph "Smokey" Johnson, Zigaboo Modeliste, Bob French – video, recorded 2008". Youtube.com, Ponderosa Stomp Channel. December 15, 2016. Archived from the original on June 29, 2017. Retrieved June 28, 2017.
Leo Nocentelli was one of the premier writers of the group and he always had this, this real, aggressive with songwriting and stuff like that.
{{cite web}}
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suggested) (help) - ^ a b c d Bryan Wawzenek (July 16, 2010). "The Gibson Interview – Leo Nocentelli of The Meters". Gibson.com. Archived from the original on May 15, 2016. Retrieved October 10, 2017.
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suggested) (help) - ^ a b "When Leo Met Leo: A Conversation with Leo Nocentelli, Page McConnell and George Porter Jr". jambands.com. November 7, 2012. Archived from the original on November 26, 2016. Retrieved October 8, 2017.
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suggested) (help)Archive page 2, Archive page 3}} - ^ "Allmusic – The Meters – biography". AllMusic. Archived from the original on October 16, 2015. Retrieved October 8, 2017.
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suggested) (help) - ^ a b c Efram Turchick (January 22, 2002). "Leo Nocentelli". sundazed.com. Archived from the original on July 25, 2008. Retrieved October 8, 2017.
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ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ Tom Murphy (December 23, 2009). "Q&A with Leo Nocentelli of the Meters". Westword. Archived from the original on January 21, 2017. Retrieved October 8, 2017.
{{cite web}}
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suggested) (help) - ^ a b c Chelsea Brasted (December 8, 2015). "The Meters' guitarist Leo Nocentelli returns home with the same passion for New Orleans' music". nola.com. Archived from the original on November 5, 2016. Retrieved October 8, 2017.
{{cite web}}
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suggested) (help) - ^ a b Keith Spera (May 1, 1995). "Leo Nocentelli's Nocentelli". OffBeat. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved October 10, 2017.
{{cite web}}
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suggested) (help) - ^ John Koetzner (Summer 1998). "Nocentelli – Live in San Francisco". Blues Access magazine. Archived from the original on January 6, 2009. Retrieved October 10, 2017.
{{cite web}}
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ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ Dave Thompson (2001). Funk, Third Ear: The Essential Listening Companion. Hal Leonard. pp. 164–169. ISBN 9780879306298. Retrieved October 10, 2017.
- ^ Keith Spera (November 10, 2014). "The Meter Men, featuring Phish's Page McConnell, to headline Joy Theater during 2015 New Orleans Jazz Fest". nola.com. Archived from the original on May 31, 2015. Retrieved October 10, 2017.
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suggested) (help) - ^ a b Dylan Muhlberg (May 11, 2015). "Grateful Web Interview with Leo Nocentelli". gratefulweb.com. Archived from the original on September 25, 2017. Retrieved October 10, 2017.
{{cite web}}
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ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ Keith Spera (August 17, 2011). "Latest Meters reunion to roll on at least through Voodoo Fest". nola.com. Archived from the original on August 9, 2016. Retrieved October 10, 2017.
{{cite web}}
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ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "New Release from Meters Guitarist Leo Nocentelli". New Orleans Music Online. May 29, 2009. Archived from the original on June 16, 2009. Retrieved October 17, 2017.
{{cite web}}
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ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "Rock House Method: The Secrets of Funk Guitar DVD". cduniverse.com. Archived from the original on October 14, 2017. Retrieved October 14, 2017.
{{cite web}}
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suggested) (help) - ^ "Allmusic: Leo Nocentelli – credits". AllMusic. Archived from the original on May 5, 2016. Retrieved October 8, 2017.
{{cite web}}
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ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ Steve Haggett (2006). "Allmusic: Sing Me Back Home – review". AllMusic. Archived from the original on September 6, 2017. Retrieved October 8, 2017.
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Further reading
- Jason Berry; Jonathan Foose; Tad Jones (1992). Up from the Cradle of Jazz. Da Capo Press. pp. 190–200. ISBN 9780306804939.
- Grace Lichtenstein; Laura Dankner (1993). Musical Gumbo: The Music of New Orleans. W.W. Norton. pp. 153–160. ISBN 9780393034684.