Neil played guitar with the legendary Tam White for 25 years, before
releasing his first solo album with Blue Soul Groove. The band is
Neil Warden (guitar), John Burgess (sax/flute), Ronnie Rae
Jr. (keys), Bobby Heatlie Sr. and Ant Davies (bass).
His musical inspirations were musicians like George Benson, Nile Rodgers,
Larry Carlton, and groups like The Average White Band and The Crusaders.
Blue Soul Groove's first self titled five track EP released in 2006, was
well received, and provided an impetus to eventually release "Turn
Back the Time". Neil said he was interested in expanding the EP,
but put it on the "back burner" to focus on work with Tam White,
Boz Burell (Bad Company) and Border's singer songwriter Allie Fox. "Turn
Back The Time" was released in 2011. Neil and Stuart Mitchell collaborated
on the release of "Silent Sky" in 2015.
He has performed with: Tam White, Boz Burrell, Peter Straker, Camille O'Sullivan,
Maggie Bell, Brian Kellock, Dave Heath, John Burgess, Stuart Mitchell,
Stevey Hay's Shades Of Blue, Aqua Bassino and more.
ARTICLES:
"1320Radio Recommends:
Silent Sky by Neil Warden and Stuart Mitchell"
~ The Music Flag - Posted on May 3, 2015
"The rough with the smooth"
Listeners tuning in to Groove Boutique on the New York radio station WQCD/CD101.9 on a Saturday night might be forgiven for assuming that one of the show's most popular bands, Blue Soul Groove, are native New Yorkers with major record-company backing. The truth couldn't be more different. Blue Soul Groove is largely the work of one Scot, guitarist Neil Warden, with the help of a few guest musicians he's invited round to his home studio in Edinburgh.
Warden, best known for his work over many years with Scottish blues
singer Tam White, had simply been laying down tracks with no real purpose
in mind. Then, however, the power of the internet intervened and catapulted
him on to a radio playlist alongside personal heroes including George
Benson, David Sanborn and Hubert Laws."
~ ROB ADAMS - The Herald December 14 2006
REVIEWS:
Neil Warden And Blue Soul Groove
When the likes of Steve Quirk are saying that Blue Soul Groove are the real
deal then it’s time to sit up and listen. Fronted by Neil Warden who writes,
arranges and plays both acoustic and electric guitars, the band is even more
remarkable in its excellence for the fact that the players all have their
roots in Scotland. Indeed not since the days of The Average White Band has a
line-up from that country come along with the kind of music capable of
pushing open the door on a genre that traditionally has been the province of
US based bands. Yet the smooth jazz and cool groove that the aptly named
Blue Soul Groove delivers is, in every respect, the genuine article. The
bands self titled five track EP is now available on iTunes and is in advance
of a full length CD that Warden hopes to release later this year.
~ Smooth Jazz Therapy - January 18, 2008 BLUE SOUL GROOVE - ‘Turn Back the Time‘…Put some BLUE SOUL GROOVE in your life!"
"It’s always nice to introduce talent from the UK and my Track of the Week comes from Edinburgh in Scotland. It’s by Neil Warden’s BLUE SOUL GROOVE. I’ve been in touch with Neil for over three years now and you may know the track ‘3AM‘ which has been heavily played on radio and featured on my Fusion Flavours 20th Anniversary CD. ~ January 31, 2011 by mattphillips - The Herald |
VIDEOS:
Stuart Mitchell & Neil Warden - EnchantedTam White and Boz Burrell with The Groove Connection
at the Edinburgh Festival 2000
