Ivan Neville is the cool, down-to-earth heir to New Orleans musical ambassadors the Neville Brothers, and bandleader of Dumpstaphunk. Refreshingly open over the phone about everything but his age, Neville divulged what it really means to be “Dumpsta.”
Neville began his musical journey during his teens as part of his illustrious family’s band. His father, Aaron Neville, gave Ivan the foundation on piano that led to his keyboard prowess. The tide turned after Neville left New Orleans for that giant proving ground, Los Angeles. There, he experienced the rougher side of life and made a name for himself outside his family’s looming shadow, playing with Bonnie Raitt, Rufus and Rolling Stone Keith Richards’ band the X-Pensive Winos. Neville calls his time in Sin City “adventurous,” an attitude that seems to have crossed over to his music.
Neville defines Dumpstaphunk’s sound as “energetic, deep, deep groove, song-orientated funk.” The band includes Nick Daniels, Tony Hall and Raymond Weber — who have backed artists as diverse as blues mama Etta James and former Phisherman Trey Anastasio — and of course, cousin Ian Neville. Neville calls him “one of the baddest funk rhythm guitar players around, period.”
Of the Dumpstaphunk lineup, Neville says, “this particular combination is … magical. We could play the same song on any given night and it could have a slightly different vibe to it.”
Naturally, the conversation turned to how he feels about what’s going on in his hometown. “It will never be the same city that I was born and raised in,” he says, “but the musicians are helping to keep the spirit of New Orleans alive.”
Meanwhile, Neville says he plans to just keep spreading the “Dumpstaphunk theory.” And what is that? “Just when you think it can’t get no funkier, it’s gon’ get funkier than that.”
Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk will be playing the Neighborhood Theatre on Wednesday, May 17 at 8pm. Tickets are $15.
This article appears in May 17-23, 2006.
